Staggered boarding

[Teesull22]

Do Elite members have to adhere to this or can we board whenever we choose?

[ricksurf]

Since you are Elite then your E-ticket boarding pass will be printed in Green on the top with the word printed Preferred Boarding; so you board whenever you wish.

[Colo Cruiser]

Staggered boarding for the most part is a suggestion.

So no it does not apply.

[skf]

We are Elite & got to the Caribbean quite early. We were in the first group to board, without any questions of boarding time.

Steve

[Teesull22]

Thanks for the quick responses.

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

I'll bet less than 1 % of the people actually follow their suggestion.

[satxdiver]

I'll bet less than 1 % of the people actually follow their suggestion.

 

Do you really believe it is that hight? :eek:

[hawkeyetlse]

People who follow instructions get points added to their secret passenger profile, which Princess uses to determine how much you win in the casino, what kinds of upgrades you get on future cruises, how strong your drinks are, how fast your internet connection is, etc. etc.

[Sissy Ruth]

On my last cruise to MX 10/20 out of San Pedro, They seated us in a "preferred boarding" area, but when the lines opened, the mob rushed the line and jumped in front of the preferred boarding. It was obnoxious and no one really did anything about it. One of the attendants said "it is just this terminal that is so bad"???Why doesn't Princess do something about this???

This will be my 19th Princess cruise next week, hopefully it will be more congenial. Also, first time in 18 cruises, our luggage did not arrive until after 6pm, even though we boarded at 11:30 am?? My lst experience on the "Grand" & I am doing it again..hope I have a better experience. Did express my disappointments in my survey!!

[Loonbeam]

Always the friendly reminder, Princess, other than by contract terms does NOT control port operations in most places (and those terms typically allow only recourse not oversight).

 

So it's entirely possible you will get someone at any given port who will decide to enforce staggered boarding.

[geoherb]

My TA forwarded the progressive boarding email to me this weekend. It's a confusingly worded document. We have preferred boarding, so we're still planning on arriving at the terminal around 11 and hoping to be on the ship around noon for lunch in the dining room. The notification only mentions lunch in the Horizon Court. There's also a major typo in the doc. It correctly gives our ship's name (Caribbean Princess) at the top but says "We look forward to welcoming you aboard Island Princess" near the bottom.

[beg3yrs]

There's also a major typo in the doc. It correctly gives our ship's name (Caribbean Princess) at the top but says "We look forward to welcoming you aboard Island Princess" near the bottom.

 

Those folk at Princess who compose this stuff aren't checking their work very well.

 

The staggered boarding announcement for our upcoming cruise on the Golden Princess included boarding times for the cabins on the Riviera Deck which to my knowledge has not been added to the Golden. :eek:

 

BTW, on our last cruise on the Royal, the staggered boarding announcement was phrased a little more assertively and effectively said that preferred boarding passes would be honored as preferred only within the announced timeframe. We like to board later anyway and the time for our deck started at 1:30. When we got past security after 1:30, the terminal staff attempted to (incorrectly) force us into the regular line, which was much longer. We ignored them and when we got to the preferred check-in desk, the staff person had to go across the hall to get our cruise cards from the regular desks. Hmmm....

Edited December 15, 2014 by beg3yrs

[sawtooth]

We are platinum and a friend is joining us (in her own cabin) for her very first cruise. We are on the Royal 1/18. Will she be able to join us in preferred boarding area. i would hate to abandon her but do like to take advantage of elite boarding area.

[Bruin Steve]

I'll bet less than 1 % of the people actually follow their suggestion.

 

I wouldn't be so sure...

We were on the Golden November 23...Out of SAN PEDRO...and the email notice seems to have worked. We arrived around 11:30 and the place looked almost deserted. We were only "Ruby", so no preferred boarding, but we were given "Boarding Group #1" passes...We boarded right after the Elites and Suites. The crowd in the terminal was surprisingly light...We were onboard by 11:50 and eating in the Dining Room before noon...

 

We are platinum and a friend is joining us (in her own cabin) for her very first cruise. We are on the Royal 1/18. Will she be able to join us in preferred boarding area. i would hate to abandon her but do like to take advantage of elite boarding area.

 

The official rule is "no"...Guests SHARING a cabin with an preferred boarding get on first...But not in other cabins...But, judging from what I've seen, it's worth a try...I really don't know how well they check...Maybe try claiming you are each sharing a cabin with one of the first timers?

[rockdoctor]

Platinum and Elite can board when they want with their entire party. It's a nice benefit.

[caribill]

My TA forwarded the progressive boarding email to me this weekend. It's a confusingly worded document. We have preferred boarding, so we're still planning on arriving at the terminal around 11 and hoping to be on the ship around noon for lunch in the dining room. The notification only mentions lunch in the Horizon Court. There's also a major typo in the doc. It correctly gives our ship's name (Caribbean Princess) at the top but says "We look forward to welcoming you aboard Island Princess" near the bottom.

 

Same wording for us on a recent Emerald cruise, but there was a dining room open for lunch as usual.

[caribill]

We are platinum and a friend is joining us (in her own cabin) for her very first cruise. We are on the Royal 1/18. Will she be able to join us in preferred boarding area. i would hate to abandon her but do like to take advantage of elite boarding area.

 

She can check in with you, but it seems to vary by port if she can board with you in the preferred group. Of course, if you show up after boarding has started, you can usually go straight to the ship from check-in.

[Bruin Steve]

Same wording for us on a recent Emerald cruise, but there was a dining room open for lunch as usual.

 

Same wording as what I got for the Golden three weeks ago...

So, when we got on board, we asked a couple of people--including our cabin steward--what dining venues were open for lunch...and BOTH told us only the Horizon Court...

We went to the dining room Deck 6 midship anyway...and, Voila...it WAS open...and serving lunch to those of us who knew this...

[shredie]

Those folk at Princess who compose this stuff aren't checking their work very well.

 

 

Just like the Patter and everything else they print. Drives the English teacher (me) crazy! I also think that people do follow the staggered boarding suggestions (if they aren't CC members and know better.)

[Colo Cruiser]

It correctly gives our ship's name (Caribbean Princess) at the top but says "We look forward to welcoming you aboard Island Princess" near the bottom.

 

 

A cut/paste fauxpax. :cool:

[peety3]

The notification only mentions lunch in the Horizon Court.

 

Here's the trick: word choice really matters once you're on board.

 

Don't say: "Where can I get lunch?"

Instead, do say: "Which dining room is open for lunch?" - the staff has to answer you with the dining room name (as long as it's before 1:30), though they'll still encourage you to the HC.

[caribill]

Here's the trick: word choice really matters once you're on board.

 

Don't say: "Where can I get lunch?"

Instead, do say: "Which dining room is open for lunch?" - the staff has to answer you with the dining room name (as long as it's before 1:30), though they'll still encourage you to the HC.

 

They are more likely to say "None of them are open."

[peety3]

They are more likely to say "None of them are open."

They don't have the authorization to lie. Therefore, they are far more likely to answer with the dining room name. But if you wish, ask the question, and capture the employee's name/role so you can report them.

[caribill]

They don't have the authorization to lie. Therefore, they are far more likely to answer with the dining room name. But if you wish, ask the question, and capture the employee's name/role so you can report them.

 

They probably really do not know that a dining room is open.

[pablo222]

But if you wish, ask the question, and capture the employee's name/role so you can report them.

 

To whom? Their supervisor who instructed them to send

everyone to the lido?