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Can I Bring A Guest Onboard for Part Of a Day?

Trainman-2
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Trainman-2

Trainman-2

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The first port call on our cruise on the Vision of the Seas in September is Charleston, SC.

 

My Cousin lives there and we would like to bring her on board the Vision for breakfast in the Windjammer and a tour of the ship.

 

She would then take us on a tour of Charleston.

 

Has anyone ever done something like this?

 

I know wedding guests can come onboard before sailing on embarkation day but what about my case?

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Ourusualbeach

Ourusualbeach

Posted
Posted
Hi :D

 

Yes it's possible.

 

From the UK site :

 

Visit A Ship - Why Not? Never cruised before? Wanting to discover what's onboard? Please contact us for day visits on shipvisits.uk@rccl.com.

http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/personal-cruise-specialists/

 

I'm thinking that the Rules and Regulations in the US are completely different but it can't hurt to make a call.

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rubrrick

rubrrick

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I know that Princess Cruises has a program for $XX.XX you can come aboard, have lunch and explore the ship, to see if that is a way that you would like to travel.

 

Royal Caribbean allows groups of Travel Agents aboard at certain ports.

 

I know of only one way to get visitors aboard, and have not done this in several years. I have to give the Captain a request, and he/she can either honor it or turn me down. The request must come to him/her 48 hours in advance or more, stating name, age and residency, and then if approved, will be added to the guest list for that day by security.

 

The guests will exchange their drivers license for a guest badge, and must be met and escorted around the ship by the passenger presently aboard.

 

It's been awhile since I have even requested that a visitor come aboard, so don't know if regulations by Royal Caribbean have changed since that time or not.

 

Rick

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MADflyer

MADflyer

Posted
Posted

Guest passes are very regulated and I have never heard that RCI have been getting involved with that recently.

 

It used to be commonplace in the 70's and 80's on the luxury lines to have bon voyage parties onboard with invited guests in the stateroom for a cocktail party and tour.

 

Only Princess and Cunard have re-invented this product to some extent. I was surprised that royal has not followed. They could fill a section of the Main Dining Room or Chops with this promo.

 

They have what is called the 'Bon voyage experience' where you pay $39.

 

There promo states :

 

What is the “Bon Voyage Experience”?

The Bon Voyage Experience is an innovative new program giving passengers the opportunity to invite their friends and family aboard their ship on embarkation day to share the fun and excitement of sail-away day. Booked passengers have four hours to show-off their stateroom and the ship, including signature Princess innovations, plus savor a four-course lunch in one of the beautiful dining rooms with friends and family.This is also an excellent opportunity for our travel partners to invite new clients to go onboard and experience the Princess difference first-hand prior to making a booking.

 

 

What is the cost and what does it include?

The $39 USD per person fee includes priority embarkation, a guided ship tour, a souvenir photo and a four-course lunch (wine included) in one of the beautiful dining rooms. In addition, each participant will receive a $39 USD Future Cruise Credit to be used as a discount on their next Princess cruise. The booking must be made within 3 months of the Bon Voyage Experience.

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nelblu

nelblu

Posted
Posted
Guest passes are very regulated and I have never heard that RCI have been getting involved with that recently.

 

It used to be commonplace in the 70's and 80's on the luxury lines to have bon voyage parties onboard with invited guests in the stateroom for a cocktail party and tour.

 

Only Princess and Cunard have re-invented this product to some extent. I was surprised that royal has not followed. They could fill a section of the Main Dining Room or Chops with this promo.

 

They have what is called the 'Bon voyage experience' where you pay $39.

 

There promo states :

 

What is the “Bon Voyage Experience”?

The Bon Voyage Experience is an innovative new program giving passengers the opportunity to invite their friends and family aboard their ship on embarkation day to share the fun and excitement of sail-away day. Booked passengers have four hours to show-off their stateroom and the ship, including signature Princess innovations, plus savor a four-course lunch in one of the beautiful dining rooms with friends and family.This is also an excellent opportunity for our travel partners to invite new clients to go onboard and experience the Princess difference first-hand prior to making a booking.

 

 

What is the cost and what does it include?

The $39 USD per person fee includes priority embarkation, a guided ship tour, a souvenir photo and a four-course lunch (wine included) in one of the beautiful dining rooms. In addition, each participant will receive a $39 USD Future Cruise Credit to be used as a discount on their next Princess cruise. The booking must be made within 3 months of the Bon Voyage Experience.

 

This sounds neat. I remember the golden days where guests were allowed to come aboard for various "Bon Voyage " parties and later followed up with streamers and confetti. I guess, it was a safer world then. Ahhh!

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megr1125

megr1125

Posted
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Unless you happen to personally know a crew member of officer, probably not.

 

Perhaps you can try calling Crown & Anchor, or if you use a TA, call them and ask if THEY can someone reach out to someone who could help..

 

That said, I think you'd be better off eating breakfast in port...

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Desert Cruizers

Desert Cruizers

Posted
Posted (edited)

One of our Members on our Calif Thread was working with his TA on doing a luncheon on board one of the Princess ships in San Pedro but we left on our cruise so not sure if it ever got organized. He said we would have been in a group and not allowed to wonder around on our own.

Edited by Desert Cruizers
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DragonOfTheSeas "Live from...." Rare

DragonOfTheSeas

Posted
Posted
Guest passes are very regulated and I have never heard that RCI have been getting involved with that recently.

 

It used to be commonplace in the 70's and 80's on the luxury lines to have bon voyage parties onboard with invited guests in the stateroom for a cocktail party and tour.

 

Only Princess and Cunard have re-invented this product to some extent. I was surprised that royal has not followed. They could fill a section of the Main Dining Room or Chops with this promo.

 

They have what is called the 'Bon voyage experience' where you pay $39.

 

There promo states :

 

What is the “Bon Voyage Experience”?

The Bon Voyage Experience is an innovative new program giving passengers the opportunity to invite their friends and family aboard their ship on embarkation day to share the fun and excitement of sail-away day. Booked passengers have four hours to show-off their stateroom and the ship, including signature Princess innovations, plus savor a four-course lunch in one of the beautiful dining rooms with friends and family.This is also an excellent opportunity for our travel partners to invite new clients to go onboard and experience the Princess difference first-hand prior to making a booking.

 

 

What is the cost and what does it include?

The $39 USD per person fee includes priority embarkation, a guided ship tour, a souvenir photo and a four-course lunch (wine included) in one of the beautiful dining rooms. In addition, each participant will receive a $39 USD Future Cruise Credit to be used as a discount on their next Princess cruise. The booking must be made within 3 months of the Bon Voyage Experience.

 

This would be great. Our DD and our DGS & DGS often drop us off and pick us up in Baltimore. Our DGD always looks longingly at the ship and has expressed interest in seeing the ship. This would be something we would do to let them see what the ship is like . . . and we could afford it.

 

Someday we will pay for the whole family to cruise--but, we are not there, yet. We have a large family and could not take one without the other.

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Merion_Mom

Merion_Mom

Posted
Posted
Unless you happen to personally know a crew member of officer, probably not.

 

Perhaps you can try calling Crown & Anchor, or if you use a TA, call them and ask if THEY can someone reach out to someone who could help..

 

That said, I think you'd be better off eating breakfast in port...

 

I *do* know people, and I am batting zero for three.

 

The answer is NO.

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Wilda

Wilda

Posted
Posted (edited)
The first port call on our cruise on the Vision of the Seas in September is Charleston, SC.

 

My Cousin lives there and we would like to bring her on board the Vision for breakfast in the Windjammer and a tour of the ship.

 

She would then take us on a tour of Charleston.

 

Has anyone ever done something like this?

 

I know wedding guests can come onboard before sailing on embarkation day but what about my case?

 

From a passenger point of view it is a lovely thought; it gives their friends and family an opportunity to see the ship, perhaps enticing future cruisers and it also allows guests to connect with friends and family in ports near and far.

 

From RCI's perspective, it is more likely a logistical nightmare and an expense. To balance that expense the cost for these breakfasts/lunches could be charged to the individual that is being visited. It could work...

Edited by Wilda
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LindaO

LindaO

Posted
Posted

Since 9/11 this is a difficult position for the cruise ship industry. In order to have a visitor board, at a non-originating point in the US is basically unheard of. Email whoever you like... but I'm expecting you will get a polite no.

Even before 9/11 it was fairly difficult. The all ashore announcements you hear, in some ports, is for Custom Agents, Coast Guard other officials of corporate partners or government agencies.

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rubrrick

rubrrick

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Posted

I just looked and the last time that I asked to have guest aboard was 6/09.

 

The last time that I was sailing on one ship and was invited by an officer of another ship, docked in the same port was 12/12.

 

I would think that after 9/11, along with some others here, I would have to agree that it would be just about impossible.

 

A. Goldstein is not the person to ask. If anyone can give permission, it would be the captain of the ship. And if Merion Mom has batted "0" and she does know the right people, I'm going to have to side with her!!;)

 

Rick

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cruisenfever

cruisenfever

Posted
Posted
Since 9/11 this is a difficult position for the cruise ship industry. In order to have a visitor board, at a non-originating point in the US is basically unheard of. Email whoever you like... but I'm expecting you will get a polite no.

Even before 9/11 it was fairly difficult. The all ashore announcements you hear, in some ports, is for Custom Agents, Coast Guard other officials of corporate partners or government agencies.

You forgot Travel Agents.

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megr1125

megr1125

Posted
Posted (edited)
I *do* know people, and I am batting zero for three.

 

The answer is NO.

 

Evidently we know different people! :p (and I guess I know the right one!! )

 

I was 4 for 4 with a yes.....

 

so the answer is not always no!

 

But for the most part, it's not going to happen, and my person is now on another ship....

Edited by megr1125
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rubrrick

rubrrick

Posted
Posted
Evidently we know different people! :p (and I guess I know the right one!! )

 

I was 4 for 4 with a yes.....

 

so the answer is not always no!

 

But for the most part, it's not going to happen, and my person is now on another ship....

 

Yep, your captain.......who is a great guy, has moved on to a different ship.

 

Did he still do this after the Concordia sinking?

 

Rick

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