Preferential Suite Access To Customs?

[philpcruiser]

Book a suite...it's worth the extra dollars. It's not offensive, you get what you pay for. Is it offensive to get all four perks, access to Michaels Club, access to private dining room, reserved sitting for shows during chic night, suite line for embankment, disembarkment, shrimp cocktail everyday at 4:00, a butler, a dedicated concierge...I think not. I pay extra for all the amenities of pay a lot more for a suite class room. I hate lines and love to be catered to. Disembarked from the Summit in August and went to the short line to the left. Out in about 10 minutes....the perks of a suite life. Worth the money. Let the flaming begin.

Thank you. I could have not said it any better!

[Muushka]

Book a suite...it's worth the extra dollars. It's not offensive, you get what you pay for. Is it offensive to get all four perks, access to Michaels Club, access to private dining room, reserved sitting for shows during chic night, suite line for embankment, disembarkment, shrimp cocktail everyday at 4:00, a butler, a dedicated concierge...I think not. I pay extra for all the amenities of pay a lot more for a suite class room. I hate lines and love to be catered to. Disembarked from the Summit in August and went to the short line to the left. Out in about 10 minutes....the perks of a suite life. Worth the money. Let the flaming begin.

 

Yup. Well said.:)

 

We can't do a suite every time we cruise, but we always appreciate these things when we do.

[phoenix_dream]

Book a suite and get lots of perks from Celebrity. Fine, you paid for that. But Customs is run by the government, not the cruiseline. Why should anyone get preference over anyone else? I for one think that's wrong. And I have the same opinion even for the times I sail in a suite, which is admittedly not often enough :)

[Gonzo70]

How is this any different than first class passengers at airports having shorter lines for TSA screening? :*:rolleyes:

[nps001]

Book a suite and get lots of perks from Celebrity. Fine, you paid for that. But Customs is run by the government, not the cruiseline. Why should anyone get preference over anyone else? I for one think that's wrong. And I have the same opinion even for the times I sail in a suite, which is admittedly not often enough :)

 

Two examples of this that come to mind are Fast Track that I mentioned above when flying business/first class Internationally. The second is Clear----they escort their customers (who paid for this service) to the front of the line for screening after their initial screening.

[chemmo]

We had our first suite experience of this perk getting off the Allure in Cape Canaveral....Expecting the usual walk down to luggage by the concierge then joining the enormous queue it was a pleasant surprise to be led to a very short queue and be slotted in.

 

We were not aware Celebrity were now doing this at any port. Never experienced this on an X cruise.

 

Our last arrival in Fort Lauderdale on a Celebrity ship was a nightmare with too few staff on and an enormous queue. We had waited in Michael's Club until 9.30 to let the queues die down but it was still horrendous.

 

I do understand the negative feelings of some to this 'perk' but I do have to say I will enjoy it next year....As others have said, just like at the airport.

[Big_G]

Focus back to the original question.

 

Question - do Celebrity suite passengers get to by pass the general passenger que for customs processing - YES or NO?

 

Yes and no. It depends on the port and it works great when it's available. :D

[Cruise a holic]

Suite guests meet in Michael's club to leave. you are escorted off the ship early by the concierge attendent. You immediately go to get your luggage and are escorted to a shorter bypass to see customs. you can get a porter to assist you. It is a pleasant end to your cruise. Just came home two weeks ago from Bermuda. This has nothing to do with the airport. We have had the same process out of Miami and Fort lauderdale.

[C 2 C]

Focus back to the original question.

 

Question - do Celebrity suite passengers get to by pass the general passenger queue for customs processing - YES or NO?

 

YES for Zenith as well.

[John&LaLa]

A current thread (Summit to Bermuda) has a refererence to suite passengers having a separate line to access Customs.

 

1) Is this true?

2) Since when does the US Government provide separate access to its services based on paying more money than someone else? A particular concern since this a national security related preference

3) Celebrity - if this is true, Celebrity speak up and identify how you arranged this with the Government

 

This is offensive to say the least.

Don't we have that at airports as well? TSA pre check, CLEAR, etc.. all charge a fee to join and get private lines to security. Airlines do it a well for 1st class and upper tier loyalty members

 

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[John&LaLa]

Focus back to the original question.

 

Question - do Celebrity suite passengers get to by pass the general passenger que for customs processing - YES or NO?

Nerd, there were three parts to your OP. [emoji6]

 

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[bonedoc7]

A current thread (Summit to Bermuda) has a refererence to suite passengers having a separate line to access Customs.

 

 

 

1) Is this true?

 

2) Since when does the US Government provide separate access to its services based on paying more money than someone else? A particular concern since this a national security related preference

 

3) Celebrity - if this is true, Celebrity speak up and identify how you arranged this with the Government

 

 

 

This is offensive to say the least.

 

 

 

Why does this offend you? The same thing happens at airports, flying first class allows you to bypass the lines, but in no way are you bypassing security or immigration. My husband travels with many electronic items, although we bypass the lines, we are very much scrutinized and experience the exact same security as those that waited a little longer. Our preference to travel in suites in no way would alter how immigration or security views our passports! In only one instance can I remember being ushered through immigration with barely a glance at our passports, in Barcelona someone was having a heart attack on the other side of immigration and my husband went to assist. Immigration and security really have no interest in how much we paid for our flights or cruise

 

 

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[C 2 C]

Nerd, there were three parts to your OP. [emoji6]

 

 

3) Celebrity - if this is true, Celebrity speak up and identify how you arranged this with the Government

 

This is offensive to say the least.

 

And I don't think anyone here can speak for Celebrity...

Have you called Miami?

[hvbaskey]

We did this Sunday. We were walked off the ship. Retrieved bags from suites area. We were then ushered to a very short line with a handful of people in front of us. There were two lines like this. The other side of the terminal was being herded into a much longer line.

 

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Same experience in April 2017 (Bayonne Disembarkation). It was unexpected and *not expected*, but very much appreciated - as we were escorted by the MCC; picked up our bags and then escorted to a very short line.

 

We had the same service at the airport, as we flew Business Class.

Edited August 31, 2017 by hvbaskey

[Alakegirl]

Is it true? At some ports yes, others no.

 

Since when did the US government provide separate access to its service based on paying more money?

 

Since they developed TSAPrecheck, followed by Global Entry and CLEAR. They also provide separate access based on handicapping condition.

 

As to question 3, I won't try to speak for Celebrity,

[ABoatNerd]

I believe this is not related to lines for Global Entry/TSA at airports or elsewhere.

 

This is about preferrential access to US government services by certain customers, arranged by Celebrity. I would not want to think that Celebrity discriminates against non suite customers related to accessing a government service paid by all taxpayers. If you have pre arranged and paid for Global Entry that is a separate private transaction with the government.

 

I have emailed Celebrity with a query and will be fascinated to wait for their response.

 

phoenix_dream, well said

 

phoenix_dream

Today 03:01 AM

 

Book a suite and get lots of perks from Celebrity. Fine, you paid for that. But Customs is run by the government, not the cruiseline. Why should anyone get preference over anyone else? I for one think that's wrong. And I have the same opinion even for the times I sail in a suite, which is admittedly not often enough

[boscobeans]

I believe this is not related to lines for Global Entry/TSA at airports or elsewhere.

 

This is about preferrential access to US government services by certain customers, arranged by Celebrity. I would not want to think that Celebrity discriminates against non suite customers related to accessing a government service paid by all taxpayers. If you have pre arranged and paid for Global Entry that is a separate private transaction with the government.

 

I have emailed Celebrity with a query and will be fascinated to wait for their response.

 

phoenix_dream, well said

 

phoenix_dream

Today 03:01 AM

 

Book a suite and get lots of perks from Celebrity. Fine, you paid for that. But Customs is run by the government, not the cruiseline. Why should anyone get preference over anyone else? I for one think that's wrong. And I have the same opinion even for the times I sail in a suite, which is admittedly not often enough :)

 

What if the cruise line allowed suite passengers and the disabled a special perk, where they were escorted off the ship, allowed to collect their luggage and go through customs before other passengers?

 

How would this in reality be any different than allowing the suite passengers or disabled passengers to be directed to a shorter line???

 

???

bosco

[Alakegirl]

No one is allowed to bypass the line, that would be the national security issue. Having a shorter line is no national security threat that I can see.

[boscobeans]

No one is allowed to bypass the line, that would be the national security issue. Having a shorter line is no national security threat that I can see.

 

We do need a "LIKE BUTTON".

 

bosco

[markeb]

I believe this is not related to lines for Global Entry/TSA at airports or elsewhere.

 

This is about preferrential access to US government services by certain customers, arranged by Celebrity. I would not want to think that Celebrity discriminates against non suite customers related to accessing a government service paid by all taxpayers. If you have pre arranged and paid for Global Entry that is a separate private transaction with the government.

 

I have emailed Celebrity with a query and will be fascinated to wait for their response.

 

phoenix_dream, well said

 

phoenix_dream

Today 03:01 AM

 

Book a suite and get lots of perks from Celebrity. Fine, you paid for that. But Customs is run by the government, not the cruiseline. Why should anyone get preference over anyone else? I for one think that's wrong. And I have the same opinion even for the times I sail in a suite, which is admittedly not often enough

 

I'm going to guess you've never been fortunate enough to arrive Business Class at Heathrow, and several other European airports. You get a nice little "by invitation" card and can go to the immigration line at the far left (last time I was there) of the arrival hall. Several other European airports have "Gold Service" that allow elite flyers access to shorter lines on arrival or departure, and in some places apparently both.

 

That does not appear to be what's being described here, but it would hardly be unique. Actually, the notion that it's NOT done often in the US is relatively unique.

[inforem]

You won't get any flaming from me. I totally agree with you! In fact I don't even take shuttles to and from the airport or cruise port, nothing but town cars and limos.

You "da man"...you understand the advantages money buys.

[inforem]

Thank you. I could have not said it any better!

 

Anytime...already booked my suite for next July on the Summit. When you weight the perks, it isn't that much more.

[inforem]

We do need a "LIKE BUTTON".

 

bosco

 

Like

[floridaag]

So silly. Even in the US, first class/business class fliers are allowed to use the TSA/Precheck line - it is the same thing

[John&LaLa]

Why does this offend you? The same thing happens at airports, flying first class allows you to bypass the lines, but in no way are you bypassing security or immigration. My husband travels with many electronic items, although we bypass the lines, we are very much scrutinized and experience the exact same security as those that waited a little longer. Our preference to travel in suites in no way would alter how immigration or security views our passports! In only one instance can I remember being ushered through immigration with barely a glance at our passports, in Barcelona someone was having a heart attack on the other side of immigration and my husband went to assist. Immigration and security really have no interest in how much we paid for our flights or cruise

 

 

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Actually, come to think of it, those in TSA pre check line have pat down lite. Well worth the expense

 

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