12:00 and not onboard

[evandbob]

The OP doesn't mention what ship or port s/he is waiting at......My last cruise on the Conquest out of FLL had a similar hold up in boarding. I started waiting in the downstairs lounge around 10:30AM and after 45 minutes we were ushered to an upstairs room. Official reason given was that there still were cruisers on the previous sailing who hadn't disembarked yet. Perhaps some of those cruisers had written a post on CC about how late can they remain on board?

 

Anyway, we finally got clearance to board around 12:30 or so. There were several hundred in the upstairs room and probably half that waiting in the smaller downstairs priority "lounge".

 

I had nothing to complain about, although the ambiance in FLL was comparable to a bus depot in a one traffic light town and nothing compared to MIA.

 

As to the poster who opined that the only why to limit priority boarding was to cut out the platinums, there is another way that won't be popular: Cut out the # of FTTF's being sold. I say this this as on my next cruise I will have that white diamond card.

[Bookbug53]

Well, what do you want them to do? Change it so that only Diamonds get priority boarding? The fact is, as time goes on there will be more and more Platinums. So it's going to feel less and less exclusive in the priority boarding section. The only resolution is to remove Platinums from the mix, and I can only imagine the uproar that will cause.

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

 

Or stop selling FTTF.

[StolidCruiser]

The OP doesn't mention what ship or port s/he is waiting at......My last cruise on the Conquest out of FLL had a similar hold up in boarding. I started waiting in the downstairs lounge around 10:30AM and after 45 minutes we were ushered to an upstairs room. Official reason given was that there still were cruisers on the previous sailing who hadn't disembarked yet. Perhaps some of those cruisers had written a post on CC about how late can they remain on board?

 

Anyway, we finally got clearance to board around 12:30 or so. There were several hundred in the upstairs room and probably half that waiting in the smaller downstairs priority "lounge".

 

I had nothing to complain about, although the ambiance in FLL was comparable to a bus depot in a one traffic light town and nothing compared to MIA.

 

As to the poster who opined that the only why to limit priority boarding was to cut out the platinums, there is another way that won't be popular: Cut out the # of FTTF's being sold. I say this this as on my next cruise I will have that white diamond card.

 

FTTF guests are rarely (but depending on port facilities, could be) corralled in the same waiting area as other priority guests.

[djhsolara]

Thanks for all of the flames everyone...I should have expected it. However, when I'm told to be at the port at 10:30, I don't expect to sit there until 1:30 waiting to board with no official communication telling us what was going on...and when we did board it was complete chaos in the room. Do they not have loudspeakers in the lounge there?

 

We've done a few Carnival cruises (5 now) but sail primarily with HAL. There, priority embarkation is truly that...frequent cruisers and suite guests.

Edited May 6, 2016 by djhsolara

[mistyinca]

OP,

 

I feel your frustration. People can be mean. I'm sure they'd be just as frustrated if they were delayed getting on a cruise they'd been waiting a while for.

 

Hopefully, you don't have to wait much longer and you can start your vacation.

 

Hang in there. :)

[missholly24]

I can see his/her point. You pay for FTTF and you shouldn't have to wait. They should serve you free drinks until you get to your room. Maybe even announce over the PA system when you step aboard.

 

I am Platinum and expect to be treated this way. I am even a shareholder. I think that I should be FIRST on board and trumpets sound as I am escorted aboard by the Captain.

 

You know Disney does in fact announce you by name when you board right....haha!! :p

Edited May 6, 2016 by missholly24

[Jdfireman]

 

So terrible I would just go home forget the trip the nerve of them making you wait

[golfb4cruzing]

We're sitting in the priority boarding area waiting to be called onboard. They told us that as of 11:00, there were still 600 people onboard. Not a good way to start a cruise.

 

And...is it really Priority Boarding when your lounge holds several hundred (300-500) people????

 

I agree with you but there is a world out there now that has no expectations and will say they are on vacation and accept inferior service. They throw money and accept garbage in return. Carnival, we promise the world and say sorry every time when we fail.

[klfrodo]

I agree with you but there is a world out there now that has no expectations and will say they are on vacation and accept inferior service. .

 

Naw, We change the things we can and don't get our panties in a wad when things happen that we can't change.

We don't have millennial sense of entitlement just because we're "Platinum" status and have to board the ship 30 minutes later.

 

My Platinum card and $2.50 still gets me the same speciality coffee as your Gold card.

[Warm Breezes]

I agree with you but there is a world out there now that has no expectations and will say they are on vacation and accept inferior service. They throw money and accept garbage in return. Carnival, we promise the world and say sorry every time when we fail.

 

Some of us have learned how to be patient growing up and know that things happen beyond ours and others control. This acceptance leads to less stress and makes our life a whole lot happier than the guy sitting next to us getting upset and angry as he waits and who holds on to that frustration for the rest of his cruise while we are relaxing and having fun. I much prefer drinking lemonade than sucking on lemons :D.

[saharaga]

I agree with both of you. I would be annoyed too if this were me and I think the OP's frustration is valid. This is one reason why we always plan to arrive at the port after 1:00. We showed up around 11:00 when we sailed on the Elation to find a line of cars that were being made to wait on the street because the previous cruisers were late getting off and we couldn't even park in the garage. Finally got on the ship three hours later :mad:.

 

Apparently, the OP is only one who has even been excited to start their vacation!! :confused:

 

I'm sure most were getting anxious. The problem with us is we were not emotionally involved because we are home pecking away on our computers.

[Warm Breezes]

I agree with both of you. I would be annoyed too if this were me and I think the OP's frustration is valid. This is one reason why we always plan to arrive at the port after 1:00. We showed up around 11:00 when we sailed on the Elation to find a line of cars that were being made to wait on the street because the previous cruisers were late getting off and we couldn't even park in the garage. Finally got on the ship three hours later :mad:.

 

And what did all that frustration get you....nothing but stress. Your still angry about it as shown with your mad face. Why? Life is to short to be angry over little things like this. Relax. Take the time to communicate with your family and/or spouse. Make a game of it. Joke about it instead of getting angry. People watch (can be very amusing sometimes). Getting angry and frustrated gets you nothing but stress. I prefer to start my vacation stress-free.

[djhsolara]

Everyone has different expectations. Everyone has different opinions. That does not mean that one is right and one is wrong. What it does mean is that people should not condemn other people for those opinions.

 

All I said was that I followed instructions provided to me by the cruise line and they did not live up to their end of the deal at that point. They set the expectation by telling me when to arrive to get onto the ship. Had they communicated to me throughout the process, perhaps I wouldn't have been as upset.

 

Once onboard, we discovered that this delay was caused by the first person who needed to be present to start the debarkation process refusing to show up. At that point, there should have been an email sent to inform guests that there would be a delay. In our case, we still would have shown up at the terminal at the same time because we had hired transportation that could not be changed, but at least we would have known that we would be waiting, rather than the situation that occurred with no communication.

[poz222]

Maybe they just "Hangry" ... Bring a snickers!

[Kanyon71]

Maybe they just "Hangry" ... Bring a snickers!

 

Was that Betty White? :)

 

(Snickers)

[RuthlessBoss]

First person to start debarkation. What the heck does that mean?:confused:

[djhsolara]

First person to start debarkation. What the heck does that mean?:confused:

 

 

I don't know what that means, but we were told that there was a particular guest that was needed to begin the debarkation process and that particular person refused to come down, hence delaying the entire process. I've never heard of such a thing, but the person that told us knew what he was talking about because of his position on the ship.

 

I'm just hypothesizing, but when there is a charter, does the person running the charter need to be there to start the process? I don't know...just a random thought

[DallasGuy75219]

First person to start debarkation. What the heck does that mean?:confused:

 

Likely a non-US citizen who was required to go through Customs onboard the ship before Customs would clear the ship for debarkation.

[CARNIVALCRUISE3]

I was also on this cruise, and believe me the poster of this thread djhsolara is not complaining at all. I could not believe how the passengers were speaking to the Carnival employees. They weren't being informed of why debarkation was delayed, and the passengers were screaming at them, saying that they were told to be at port at 10:30, and it is 1:00 and they couldn't board, and how they should get compensation for waiting that extra time. The Carnival employees were so patient and polite.

Edited May 6, 2016 by CARNIVALCRUISE3

[Elaine5715]

Carnival needs to stop having the polite Brita, Aussies and Canadians make the last call , get off the ship announcements and let a New Yorker let it rip " I said ,GETOFFMYFREAKINGBOAT!"

[xeroxme]

OP,

 

 

 

I feel your frustration. People can be mean. I'm sure they'd be just as frustrated if they were delayed getting on a cruise they'd been waiting a while for.

 

 

 

Hopefully, you don't have to wait much longer and you can start your vacation.

 

 

 

Hang in there. :)

 

True that!! Makes you hope they are not on same cruise. Lol

[dave_k58]

I'm surprised some haven't added to this thread. As I was skimming older threads, there is one started by keith74 and someone indicated the hold up was because of a charter by the Tom Joyner foundation. Someone posted this is their 4th year and are noted for delaying getting off.

 

 

I would wait at least a month before sailing on a ship that had a Tom Joyner charter on it

[saharaga]

Little things? Ha! It would be so nice if people learned to respond to other people's experience without minimizing or dismissing their feelings because it's not how they would feel.

 

And what did all that frustration get you....nothing but stress. Your still angry about it as shown with your mad face. Why? Life is to short to be angry over little things like this. Relax. Take the time to communicate with your family and/or spouse. Make a game of it. Joke about it instead of getting angry. People watch (can be very amusing sometimes). Getting angry and frustrated gets you nothing but stress. I prefer to start my vacation stress-free.

[saharaga]

Thank you! Very well stated

 

 

Everyone has different expectations. Everyone has different opinions. That does not mean that one is right and one is wrong. What it does mean is that people should not condemn other people for those opinions...

[Ggbug501]

Hi,

I just wanted to say we had a time to board of 1:00. We were at the port by 12:30 and waited outside for two and a half hours. I do not think I am special or anything, but it was really difficult to wait outside on the sidewalk with a 2 and 4 year old that long in the heat. Some communication would have been nice. We still had a good time, but it was a difficult start.