Vibe passes and NCL's new boarding policy

[kathy884]

Starting February 2017, NCL expanded the Priority Boarding to Latitudes members. Now, Haven/Suites board first. Followed by Casino Guests in NYC (only). Followed by Ambassador, Platinum Plus, and Platinum guests. Then general boarding starts with Boarding Group 1. So, a large number of guests will board before general boarding starts,,,, and before general boarders can make the dash to get vibe passes.

 

We are planning to get to Miami at 9:00/9:30 to try to get Vibe passes on the Getaway. We are Casino guests, but it's not NYC. Will we just be in the general boarding? Didn't know if the Casino guest thing would get us into an earlier general boarding group or not?

[BirdTravels]

We are planning to get to Miami at 9:00/9:30 to try to get Vibe passes on the Getaway. We are Casino guests, but it's not NYC. Will we just be in the general boarding? Didn't know if the Casino guest thing would get us into an earlier general boarding group or not?

General boarding.

 

Miami boards from two terminals. Terminal B and Terminal C (basically odd decks and even decks). Each will independently board their Haven guests and Priority guests (Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Ambassador). Then start calling group numbers. So, even if you are Boarding Group 1, if the other terminal starts first, you won't be the first general boarding passenger up the gangway.

[Laszlo]

Help, what are Vibe passes, and are they on all ships?

 

Here.....

And Here....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJsqesF9agg&t=44s

[sclauss]

Going on Escape from NYC. If I am Platinum and a Casino guest, do I still need to arrive extra early for priority boarding? Thanks!

[BirdTravels]

Going on Escape from NYC. If I am Platinum and a Casino guest, do I still need to arrive extra early for priority boarding? Thanks!

You need to be in the boarding area by 11:30 (I.e., through security and check-in). Casino will have a separate waiting area that you need to find.

[Cruise a holic]

We were in the Haven and the concierge arranged this for us in advance. So worth it. Even in the Haven which has kids. Sometimes they get crazy and on our cruise some parents thinks they can do what they want. The ship is the most crowded of any line we have sailed on- so do what you have to do to get those passes-come early.

[dna529]

Can you still buy passes per day? Could I buy for 2 days only?

 

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[Visigoth]

I've read many, many (too many) stories about the great Vibe pass race. Most accounts are of getting the last or close to the last passes. One cruiser picked up passes the next morning after boarding because they "had been returned". I still have not heard of anyone missing out on a Vibe pass. No one knows for sure how many passes are sold. NCL will never answer that question authoritatively. The "travel experts" make claims ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred. I believe the claims of pass scarcity may be exaggerated a bit. Any stories out there from someone who tried and was too late?

[Shidah]

I’ve read several posts on CC where people did not get passes because they were sold out.

[Shidah]

Also, I think returning the passes is something we are hearing about more due to people thinking you can smoke in Vibe when you can’t on some ships, and you can on others. For example. I was on the BA out of NY in Vibe, and I was one of the few non-smokers. Though it was supposedly just at the bar, people were smoking near the rails, hot tub, loungers etc. If those people book the Escape out of NY where there is. NO smoking in the Vibe (for which I am very happy) they might not be happy and complain and try to return their passes.

Edited September 1, 2018 by Shidah
typo

[Tiggertastic]

We were on getaway last week and got vibe passes. They no longer do daily ones. They boarded suites, special assistance the platinum/plus/ambassador the boarding 1. We grabbed ours and sat at the atrium bar watching the fun happen. One person would walk up wanting 16, was told until all there it would not happen, everyone asking for 2 had to point to the other person. It had gone upto $129, we paid $99 last year. 60 sold but never more than 30 people there and on sea days at 11am we thought we’d have last pick of beds but only a few people there. Saw two special assistance who miraculously were cured the rest of the week.

 

 

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[Tiggertastic]

Meant to add - Half the bar area was smoking where escape was non smoking. We did have a few who had kids or teens on the ship who would sneak them in by the back door and guests had a lot to say about it to the crew. But on the 5th occasion the crew asked them what they wanted to drink and at that point some guests just felt it was way too far a gesture.

 

 

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[Visigoth]

We were on getaway last week and got vibe passes. They no longer do daily ones. They boarded suites, special assistance the platinum/plus/ambassador the boarding 1. We grabbed ours and sat at the atrium bar watching the fun happen. One person would walk up wanting 16, was told until all there it would not happen, everyone asking for 2 had to point to the other person. It had gone upto $129, we paid $99 last year. 60 sold but never more than 30 people there and on sea days at 11am we thought we’d have last pick of beds but only a few people there. Saw two special assistance who miraculously were cured the rest of the week.

 

 

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How long did you watch and did you see anyone turned away because they were out of passes?

[AshleyJax]

Starting February 2017, NCL expanded the Priority Boarding to Latitudes members. Now, Haven/Suites board first. Followed by Casino Guests in NYC (only). Followed by Ambassador, Platinum Plus, and Platinum guests. Then general boarding starts with Boarding Group 1. So, a large number of guests will board before general boarding starts,,,, and before general boarders can make the dash to get vibe passes.

 

 

This may be a silly question, but, is there a difference between priority boarding and priority check in?

[esm54687]

This may be a silly question, but, is there a difference between priority boarding and priority check in?

Big difference..... check in is when you process all your paperwork and receive your stateroom key etc similiar to checking in to a hotel...... boarding is when you physically get on the ship.

[AshleyJax]

Big difference..... check in is when you process all your paperwork and receive your stateroom key etc similiar to checking in to a hotel...... boarding is when you physically get on the ship.

 

But don't you do that form of checking in (i.e. process paperwork, receive key) as you are boarding the ship? On my last cruise (10th cruise, but first time on NCL) we boarded the ship right after getting our key.

[esm54687]

But don't you do that form of checking in (i.e. process paperwork, receive key) as you are boarding the ship? On my last cruise (10th cruise, but first time on NCL) we boarded the ship right after getting our key.

If you arrive at the terminal after boarding begins then yes you check in and then board immediately.

 

If you arrive at the terminal before boarding begins then you check in...... sit until boarding is called and then board the ship in groups.

 

Checking in and boarding are two different actions..

 

This is not specific to NCL...... you checked in and then boarded on your last 10 cruises.