Royal Suite Class program - Roll Out Date?

[A&L_Ont]

Thanks for the onfo Florida Keys Cruiser. It is greatly appreciated.

[A&L_Ont]

We almost never arrive before 1:00

 

Hate dragging crap around

 

We only drag the needed crap. :) If we only lived minutes from port we could even avoid doing that.

 

I use my backpack for a carry-on and arrive in my bathing suit. I take full advantage of day 1.

 

 

Swim suits, sun lotion, and flow boards. Thats all I really need on embarkation day.:D

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

"holding onto your luggage"...

 

Our usual protocol is to drop-off luggage, park, then go into the terminal. We've got too much to "hold onto", so I'd guess we'll need to just drop it off and leave it at/near the regular drop-off (unless there's a way to leave them near the entrance to the terminal). Either way, I'd picture leaving Cheryl to guard our luggage (from getting scooped into the regular channels) while I park.

 

I'm sure we'll see more specific recommendations as time passes.

 

Tom

[irishgal432]

It sounds like the luggage is delivered immediately through your genie which means maybe your room will be ready before 1 ish. Hopefully someone will confirm

[A&L_Ont]

"holding onto your luggage"...

 

Either way, I'd picture leaving Cheryl to guard our luggage (from getting scooped into the regular channels) while I park.

 

I'm sure we'll see more specific recommendations as time passes.

 

Tom

 

That's what we'd do if we were so lucky to be able to drive to port.

[NicoleAndChris]

It sounds like the luggage is delivered immediately through your genie which means maybe your room will be ready before 1 ish. Hopefully someone will confirm

 

I'll let you know what happens Saturday. We're arriving at an arranged time before 1pm and the genie told us not to give up our luggage until the genie services team fetches us. She said we would be taken straight to the suite, so I'd agree that yes, the star class suites will likely be ready prior to 1pm. I was surprised to hear her terminology of 'team', it definitely sounded like there will be a separate area as star class arrives.

[mkbruce]

I'll let you know what happens Saturday. We're arriving at an arranged time before 1pm and the genie told us not to give up our luggage until the genie services team fetches us. She said we would be taken straight to the suite, so I'd agree that yes, the star class suites will likely be ready prior to 1pm. I was surprised to hear her terminology of 'team', it definitely sounded like there will be a separate area as star class arrives.

 

From a Genie email:

 

"Please allow me to provide you with directions to the STAR Class arrival area and guarantee VIP boarding. In Port Everglades, you will find a gate marked as "SUITES" on a black screen with red letters. I kindly ask to hold on to your luggage instead of dropping it in the regular check-in area. Once you mention to the pier staff that you are Star Class guests, they will understand."

[NicoleAndChris]

From a Genie email:

 

"Please allow me to provide you with directions to the STAR Class arrival area and guarantee VIP boarding. In Port Everglades, you will find a gate marked as "SUITES" on a black screen with red letters. I kindly ask to hold on to your luggage instead of dropping it in the regular check-in area. Once you mention to the pier staff that you are Star Class guests, they will understand."

 

Thanks for that! My genie said she would be sending out some of the emails including items to not bring 'for our comfort' (wondering if this is different from the usual since she has made a point to say it a few times), later this afternoon.

[irishgal432]

I'll let you know what happens Saturday. We're arriving at an arranged time before 1pm and the genie told us not to give up our luggage until the genie services team fetches us. She said we would be taken straight to the suite, so I'd agree that yes, the star class suites will likely be ready prior to 1pm. I was surprised to hear her terminology of 'team', it definitely sounded like there will be a separate area as star class arrives.

 

 

We will be there on sat as well but only in a cls. It sounds like curb to room service. What a great way to start.

[NicoleAndChris]

We will be there on sat as well but only in a cls. It sounds like curb to room service. What a great way to start.

 

I thought your screen name looked familiar from the roll call! :D

[klepton]

I too was planning to arrive at 10:30. She hasn't told me yet to arrive later so we will see. Maybe they want the three of us to arrive at different times so she can escort us on separately??

 

I got a response to an email sent my our Genie, Israel, letting me know he had scheduled dining for us on Saturday and Sunday, a massage for my wife, as well as a couple of other small requests.

 

He asked that we arrive at 11:30A - perhaps the Genies are trying to schedule the arrival of their respective guests in a manner that lets them personally handle each one? That would make sense to me. He did say to hold on to our luggage instead of giving it to the porters, noting that the pier staff would know what to do we told them we were star class...

 

I think you guys hit the nail on the head, and it makes sense that they would do it this way. I just hope I'm the one that gets the early slot!

[klepton]

"holding onto your luggage"...

 

Our usual protocol is to drop-off luggage, park, then go into the terminal. We've got too much to "hold onto", so I'd guess we'll need to just drop it off and leave it at/near the regular drop-off (unless there's a way to leave them near the entrance to the terminal). Either way, I'd picture leaving Cheryl to guard our luggage (from getting scooped into the regular channels) while I park.

 

I'm sure we'll see more specific recommendations as time passes.

 

Tom

 

I'm curious to read reports on this as well. We usually have 4 big bags, one carry-on, a stroller, and a car seat. That's more than I want to lug into/through the terminal considering my wife pushes the stroller, DD is good for maybe pulling the carryon suitcase, leaving me to pull 4 daisy-chained suitcases. I'll wait to see what happens with others, it's still almost a year before I cruise. We might not even take the stroller by then.

[John&LaLa]

We only drag the needed crap. :) If we only lived minutes from port we could even avoid doing that.

 

 

 

 

Swim suits, sun lotion, and flow boards. Thats all I really need on embarkation day.:D

 

3 day cruise is rolly bag only, no checked luggage. When checking luggage, we still do rolly bag for wine, cameras, jewelry, chromebook,

[A&L_Ont]

3 day cruise is rolly bag only, no checked luggage. When checking luggage, we still do rolly bag for wine, cameras, jewelry, chromebook,

 

Perfect packing for three days IMO. We only took 1 medium bag each, for 2 weeks and did no laundry while on the ship. We take 1 small rolly for items like you do, a back pack for Owen markers books etc, and board bag for me. It's all in the packing. :D

 

I'm looking forward to the free laundry next March in the SLS, and we can pack even less.:)

Edited May 3, 2016 by A&L_Ont

[MattInFLL]

I was going to drive to the port, but maybe we will do Uber instead. I'm not a fan of terminal 18 parking to begin with and less so with big bags. And this is definitely a big bag trip. :)

[A&L_Ont]

I was going to drive to the port, but maybe we will do Uber instead. I'm not a fan of terminal 18 parking to begin with and less so with big bags. And this is definitely a big bag trip. :)

 

Uber can go into the port area? I only ask as my DW though that they couldn't. I'd like to try uber, as getting a taxi on embarkation day at the hotel is a pain.

[constable145]

Uber can go into the port area? I only ask as my DW though that they couldn't. I'd like to try uber, as getting a taxi on embarkation day at the hotel is a pain.

 

I've never had a problem with a hotel- I just flip the concierge/bell hop/valet guy a few bucks and one magically appears within minutes.

[A&L_Ont]

I've never had a problem with a hotel- I just flip the concierge/bell hop/valet guy a few bucks and one magically appears within minutes.

 

We have used taxis at FLL for almost 12 years. We always call for one, but rarely does the driver say that he is there to get "Andrew". The driver just gets whoever gets in first, and often people before me believe that they deserve that taxi as they have been waiting. We have waited long enough to know that the taxi that should have been ours has come and gone. In the meantime the hotel pimps their shuttle. Just not as easy of a process as it should be.

 

I have never used Uber but I would appreciate that they are there to get me, and only me.

[klepton]

We have used taxis at FLL for almost 12 years. We always call for one, but rarely does the driver say that he is there to get "Andrew". The driver just gets whoever gets in first, and often people before me believe that they deserve that taxi as they have been waiting. We have waited long enough to know that the taxi that should have been ours has come and gone. In the meantime the hotel pimps their shuttle. Just not as easy of a process as it should be.

 

I have never used Uber but I would appreciate that they are there to get me, and only me.

 

Generally speaking you're better off having the valet call you a cab than you calling yourself, for this very reason. The valet works for tips, and will pay attention to the cab coming for you vs. others.

 

Not saying you shouldn't try Uber, I love Uber! I can't imagine there'd be any problem with Uber dropping off in port. There might be a problem with Uber picking up in port after the cruise though, depending on port rules.

[cruisequeen3311]

great thread - love the emails from the genies

[A&L_Ont]

Generally speaking you're better off having the valet call you a cab than you calling yourself, for this very reason. The valet works for tips, and will pay attention to the cab coming for you vs. others.

 

Not saying you shouldn't try Uber, I love Uber! I can't imagine there'd be any problem with Uber dropping off in port. There might be a problem with Uber picking up in port after the cruise though, depending on port rules.

 

We stopped staying at Embassy Suites after ten years. For us the product they offer no longer compares to their escalated price. We started staying at the Hyatt 17th St Convention Centre. It varies from $50-$100 less than ES, but they do not have a bell hop which is the reason to why we call a taxi. That is why the Uber idea VS calling a cab is what we are considering next time. There are many great hotels in Fort Lauderdale that have bell hops, but for the short overnight stay I can't justify the added cost. I'd rather put the money saved towards a private rental of the flow rider. :D

 

We always use the taxi when leaving the cruise port for the airport. The only time we used a ship transfer was our first time at Port Everglades, as we didn't know how close the airport actually was. I think for us Uber is the way to go for our next cruise departing from Port Everglades.

Edited May 3, 2016 by A&L_Ont

[klepton]

We stopped staying at Embassy Suites after ten years. For us the product they offer no longer compares to their escalated price. We started staying at the Hyatt 17th St Convention Centre. It varies from $50-$100 less than ES, but they do not have a bell hop which is the reason to why we call a taxi. That is why the Uber idea VS calling a cab is what we are considering next time. There are many great hotels in Fort Lauderdale that have bell hops, but for the short overnight stay I can't justify the added cost. I'd rather put the money saved towards a private rental of the flow rider. :D

 

We always use the taxi when leaving the cruise port for the airport. The only time we used a ship transfer was our first time at Port Everglades, as we didn't know how close the airport actually was. I think for us Uber is the way to go for our next cruise departing from Port Everglades.

 

Makes total sense, I would also utilize Uber in your situation.

[FloridaKeysCruiser]

I had seen several people asking about whether certain things are included with the specialty dining and I was curious myself so I asked our genie, Smitha. This is the response I received today.

 

"I would like to confirm that 150 Central Park is included as well as the Wine Pairing. So is Johnny Rockets, Cups & Scoops and Starbucks. I will be more than happy to bring your coffee from Starbucks every morning to your room as per your wish."

 

 

I am very surprised that Starbucks is included! I only asked on a whim because my daughter loves Starbucks but I didn't think it would be included.

 

Lisa

[sdowney]

Wow, seems like everything is included with the Star class. January 2017 can come soon enough for me.

 

 

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[NicoleAndChris]

Florida Keys Cruiser and MKBruce:

Caribbean Tom and I thinking about doing a cocktail hour with us star class suites and putting the in-room cocktails to the test. Let us know if you're interested :D

Here's is Tom's burner email and he has my real email address if you all want to join in: CTBurner@outlook.com