Who boards first, Casino at Sea or Platinum members

[Scurrent]

I will be sailing on the Epic in the next several weeks and want to know who boards first, Casino at Sea or Platinum members? Trying to find out which line I should be in to get on first. - Thanx - Steve

[rbt001]

I will be sailing on the Epic in the next several weeks and want to know who boards first, Casino at Sea or Platinum members? Trying to find out which line I should be in to get on first. - Thanx - Steve

 

Here's my experience in Port of Miami this October for embarkation on Escape.

 

The casino desk (toll-free number) that booked my cruise explained that Haven guests are first to board, followed by CAS. But he said he could do nothing about priority disembarkation.

 

I arrived at the port, and once through security, I approached an agent inside standing by a CAS sign and showed her my boarding pass which indicated "casino." She opened the roped off line to allow me through for immediate check-in. The agent stated that he did not know where I should go, while another said they would just announce our priority boarding upstairs.

 

At the top of the escalator I did not take a Boarding Group pass and walked over to the area where we would have to pass through to board the ship, as through the glass I saw Haven guests being escorted to board. There was already a line of Platinum members ready for the door to open. When I asked one of the agents who would be opening the door, he looked at me like I had two heads and said: "I have been here five years and I've never heard of casino guests having priority boarding." So I just merged in with the Platinum guests when they were called to board; I was lucky that I wasn't stopped or questioned.

 

Disembarkation was different. A day or two before the end of the cruise, I received a letter with gold printed PRIORITY luggage tags along with another option to meet at a location "as early as 7:30am" for priority "Walk-off" (no checked luggage) disembarkation. When I arrived at 7:25am, noone was there. An officer in uniform was on the telephone but asked, "Are you Robert?" When I responded to the affirmative the officer said to the phone: "Gotta go, he's here."

 

I was then escorted back of the house and taken on a service elevator. We emerged back of the house right at the gangway, and I could see the walk-off passengers held back, waiting to go.

[Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin]

When I spoke with Casinos at Sea, the agent advised me to get in which ever line was shorter, since I will have both CAS and Platinum priority boarding. My understanding from reading various posts is that Platinum will board ahead of CAS, so that is probably the line I will chose.

[kaftigr]

I’ve never seen priority boarding for CAS but have checked into the CAS line before I turned Platinum. Now I just go to whichever line is shortest which is usually CAS. My experience with this is only in Miami.

[BeeeJay]

Platinum boarded first on our cruise.

 

CAS check-in line had been very short past 3 years, at far left of the lines, so I've never looked past it, just walked right up to the next agent and checked in!

[Sand and Seas]

 

Disembarkation was different. A day or two before the end of the cruise, I received a letter with gold printed PRIORITY luggage tags along with another option to meet at a location "as early as 7:30am" for priority "Walk-off" (no checked luggage) disembarkation. When I arrived at 7:25am, noone was there. An officer in uniform was on the telephone but asked, "Are you Robert?" When I responded to the affirmative the officer said to the phone: "Gotta go, he's here."

 

I was then escorted back of the house and taken on a service elevator. We emerged back of the house right at the gangway, and I could see the walk-off passengers held back, waiting to go.

 

RBT001, what status are you with CAS? (I am Sapphire, almost Ruby)

I have only gotten priority disembarkation once as part of a special CAS group. It was great, so hoping for that on our Escape cruise next month.

[bmwman]

Platinum boarded first on our cruise.

 

CAS check-in line had been very short past 3 years, at far left of the lines, so I've never looked past it, just walked right up to the next agent and checked in!

 

Haven board before everyone

[AmazedByCruising]

An officer in uniform was on the telephone but asked, "Are you Robert?" When I responded to the affirmative the officer said to the phone: "Gotta go, he's here."

 

I was then escorted back of the house and taken on a service elevator. We emerged back of the house right at the gangway, and I could see the walk-off passengers held back, waiting to go.

 

Wow, that's cool.

[rbt001]

RBT001, what status are you with CAS? (I am Sapphire, almost Ruby)

I have only gotten priority disembarkation once as part of a special CAS group. It was great, so hoping for that on our Escape cruise next month.

 

Two cruises: Sapphire, almost Ruby myself.

 

According to the benefit chart online, at Sapphire level we get Priority Disembarkation.

 

I'd suggest you ask a casino host about it during your cruise to confirm and express interest.

[Sand and Seas]

Two cruises: Sapphire, almost Ruby myself.

 

According to the benefit chart online, at Sapphire level we get Priority Disembarkation.

 

I'd suggest you ask a casino host about it during your cruise to confirm and express interest.

 

I will definitely check with them. Do you know who is Exec Host on board now? We were on board Escape at beginning of year and hosts were rotating out then. Thanks for the info !

[BirdTravels]

I will be sailing on the Epic in the next several weeks and want to know who boards first, Casino at Sea or Platinum members? Trying to find out which line I should be in to get on first. - Thanx - Steve

The ONLY place that I have seen CAS preboards is in New York.

[BirdTravels]

Two cruises: Sapphire, almost Ruby myself.

 

According to the benefit chart online, at Sapphire level we get Priority Disembarkation.

 

I'd suggest you ask a casino host about it during your cruise to confirm and express interest.

Priority disembark means you get a color luggage tag that gets offloaded first like the platinum members. You at NOT escorted off like Havens or suites guests.

[Juvesgirl]

I don't know about platinum, but can confirm CAS gets priority boarding in NY (but not sure if before or after Platinum).

 

Anyone know if CAS gets priority boarding in LA/Long Beach? Headed on Bliss in October...

Edited December 29, 2017 by Juvesgirl
posted incomplete message

[rbt001]

Priority disembark means you get a color luggage tag that gets offloaded first like the platinum members. You at NOT escorted off like Havens or suites guests.

 

All I can tell you is that I was escorted off back of the house, like I heard Haven guests are treated.

 

The disembarkation letter had those white with gold printing, PRIORITY luggage tags, but also had instructions for a special meeting point if I wanted to walk-off. That's where I went. There actually appeared to be a continental breakfast set-up. Given that and the form letter, I don't think I was the only one. However, it could only be my gambling or CAS status, as I am still bronze.

[sverigecruiser]

All I can tell you is that I was escorted off back of the house, like I heard Haven guests are treated.

 

The disembarkation letter had those white with gold printing, PRIORITY luggage tags, but also had instructions for a special meeting point if I wanted to walk-off. That's where I went. There actually appeared to be a continental breakfast set-up. Given that and the form letter, I don't think I was the only one. However, it could only be my gambling or CAS status, as I am still bronze.

 

I think that the difference is that as Havenguest you get priority disembarkation when you want, early or late, and from your description it sounded like you had priority disembarkation only if you wanted to leave early.

 

(I might be wrong.)

[rbt001]

I think that the difference is that as Havenguest you get priority disembarkation when you want, early or late, and from your description it sounded like you had priority disembarkation only if you wanted to leave early.

 

(I might be wrong.)

 

My first thought is that you are correct. I chose "Walk-off" which means that I had to carry all my luggage by myself and not need any assistance with it or myself (i.e. wheelchair) and those are the first to leave the ship. I'm pretty sure I tossed the letter by now, so I can't go back and re-read it. But I do specifically remember the language for walk-offs to be that we could "... arrive as early as 7:30 am"

[Sand and Seas]

Priority disembark means you get a color luggage tag that gets offloaded first like the platinum members. You at NOT escorted off like Havens or suites guests.

 

On the Pearl I was part of a special CAS group. We were given Gold bag tags (not for walk-off) and told a specific place to gather. The leader of our group was given these instructions by the CAS Exec Host. An officer was at the gathering place and directing those without the special tags to go to the general line. We got to disembark before they made general announcements for color groups.

 

As Platinum Plus I get Yellow tags and do not get in a special by-pass line. If I can get the Gold tags as Sapphire and above with CAS, I am certainly going to ask.

[mking8288]

As far as we know, out of NYC - both the Breakaway & Gem in 2017 - whereas it was possibly different before this year - CAS generally board after Platinum/Plus & Ambassadors (there're 2 of them on our Gem sailing) - seated in different area near AFT gangway. Haven & Special Needs go first. For the Gem, there're maybe 100 Platinum and 200+ CAS players in the other roped off area (pier agent joked while checking us in as Platinum that it's like 20% of those on the sailing had CAS status) ... LOL If there're escorted priority embarkation of CAS players, we didn't see any of it before all the Platinum members were boarded, as the sailing was running late ... everyone sat around & waited patiently.

 

For the BA, same sequence as above in late October - there're less than 100 Platinum/Plus in the roped off area, next to Special Needs by the door - nearest to the AFT gangway reserved for them. Platinum and even Haven guests all boarded using Fwd gangway only - no idea about CAS or general boarding after us, as we're on Deck 7 by then ... and the CAS seating/waiting area had a lot more being held back.

 

I cannot imagine 200+ CAS players being given escorted priority disembarkation, even if it was the Gem ... let alone the BA with 4,500 passengers on our Halloween sailing.

 

As far as escorted disembarkation, there're procedures in place for those doing Express Walkoff & those with special colored-tag; and, where to meet and time - a little different with the BA and the Gem. BA's concierge was clearly running around on turnaround day - while it's possible that she could've be tasked with dealing with a few CAS players with top-tiered VIP status, I don't see - IMHO - her team working the magic with hundreds more.

[Enavigo]

Regarding disembarkation, the programs are slightly different for Haven vs CAS. Well, at least for the Breakaway and Port of NY they are. Essentially, the CAS perk ends at the gangway so to speak, while the Haven benefit extends to the terminal exit.

 

On my last trip on the Breakaway, we had 2 CAS guests join us in the internal elevator (something about the Conceirge covering for the CAS host). As they were escorted on, the Conceirge reminded them that once they left the ship they would need to stay left and join the general passenger line. He then told the rest of us to just stay to the right and show our Haven cards to the attendant at the terminal doors for entry and expedited exit.

 

Of course, these 2 pretended not to hear these instructions and tried to sneak through with the rest of us, but when the attendant saw their cards, she told them they needed to walk back and join the general line.

 

These two proceeded to then tell the attendant that they were told they were entitled to exit with Haven guests. The attendant's response was priceless: "Sir, I have been working this door since the Breakaway began sailing out of NY, and in all that time, no one has ever instructed me to grant Haven privileges to non-Haven passengers. Please walk back and join the general disembarkation line."

 

She said it so politely, but so assertively. I actually told her she handled that expertly and she just smiled and said "experience." [emoji3]

 

 

 

 

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[Sand and Seas]

 

I cannot imagine 200+ CAS players being given escorted priority disembarkation, even if it was the Gem ... let alone the BA with 4,500 passengers on our Halloween sailing.

 

As far as escorted disembarkation, there're procedures in place for those doing Express Walkoff & those with special colored-tag; and, where to meet and time - a little different with the BA and the Gem. BA's concierge was clearly running around on turnaround day - while it's possible that she could've be tasked with dealing with a few CAS players with top-tiered VIP status, I don't see - IMHO - her team working the magic with hundreds more.

 

While there are a lot of CAS guests on board, that includes all who got any kind of 10% or higher discount as well as those who got a comped cabin. I wonder how many are actually Sapphire/Ruby/Elite. You have to have made 15,000 or more points during the specific time period the year before to make that status. CAS does show Priority Disembarkation as a perk for this group. If the Exec Host can give you Gold bag tags, that is ahead of my Yellow Platinum Plus bag tags.

[mking8288]

... I wonder how many are actually Sapphire/Ruby/Elite ... CAS does show Priority Disembarkation as a perk for this group. If the Exec Host can give you Gold bag tags, that is ahead of my Yellow Platinum Plus bag tags.

Probably not that many top-tiered CAS but I'm reasonable sure that there're among us - on our last last BA Roll Call, they cruise often & probably had at least Platinum status & probably P+ ... thus, dual status for boarding.

 

Just don't wanted to mislead those with basic CAS to expect the white gloves :p - what Enavigo described above is probably still the current "perks" for NYC sailing - other ports are and likely different, maybe similar.

 

We had VIP status on the Gem (non-Haven & not b/c of CAS) and had extras from the concierge, which was extended to priority disembarkation, more exclusive than being just Platinum - we had instructions & time/options - went there & had to show our cards to be checked off against a list (Haven guests were in that area but mostly departed) - we're walked out, around & out to the gangway. That was it, we bypassed the long lines of regulars, also heading down the stairs into luggage hall - and, join the masses. Special Needs were escorted off the AFT gangway, marked as reserved & we saw some guests (most likely, Haven) getting escorted off, to our right ... up to the glass door by crew members.

 

Once downstairs, we located our 2 pc. of checked bags & grab a porter for the fast track down the middle - and got outside in probably 10 minutes.

 

The most recent process for Platinum disembarkation on the BA (our 4th. time doing the BA) was not as smooth - we saved some time but there was no escort up to the Fwd gangway this time. Haven & other VIP were coming out of the Fwd Service Elevators; and, had a different route & faster track.

[rbt001]

I agree with posters who state the unlikelihood of 200 CAS guests getting an escort off as I described. I'm really not sure how many are at Sapphire and above.

 

Also, for my two cruises out of Miami I only noticed ONE gangway being used, which I thought was strange given the ship's size.

 

To the comments about the benefit ending at the gangway, I can see that too. In Miami there really were not that many people ahead of me once in the terminal. All of us were held in line as TSA had not yet opened. What bothered me is that both cruises I could see the markings and posters for GLOBAL ENTRY, and when I presented my card each cruise, I was told by the contract workers a different reason why GE is not used.