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Platinum/Elite Lounge

BIGADORF

By BIGADORF,
in Princess Cruises

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Hlitner "Live from...." Rare

Hlitner

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, geoherb said:

On our trans-Atlantic cruise last month on the Royal Princess, there were so many past passengers that they held the Captain's Circle parties on two nights. There wasn't the cocktail event on those nights.

 

I like that they've expanded the drink selection to allow us to order any of the specials any night. I don't like that the price has gone up considerably since they first started. 

We had a similar situation on the 14 night Regal TA cruise a few weeks ago.  DW and I have been Elite for many years and long ago became bored with all the Captain's Circle and Elite things.  We seldom bother to go to any of those events including the daily "cocktail" party with its awful daily snack and very limited drink menu with slightly discounted prices.  On the two nights when they held the Captain's Circle parties we saw folks (including some friends) standing in a long queue for more then 15 minutes to get crammed into a lounge for a lousy free drink and the usual speeches.  Meanwhile, we sat at our favorite bar enjoying our favorite cocktails (none of which are on the limited Elite menu) without having to wait in a queue for the privilege of rubbing elbows with some of the hired help!  ARGH!

 

So here is our confession.  We can still remember the days when we looked forward to reaching the higher frequent cruiser levels (on multiple cruise lines) to even get invited to special parties and events.  But now, having reached those levels (on many lines) we have no desire to go to those events :).  Go figure.  And its the same when it comes to dining with Senior Officers including the Captain!  We used to hope that we would get invited and when it happened we would "dress to the nines" and love every moment.  But after more then a few invites we finally turned down a telephone invite from the hostess.  When she asked why we simply explained that we had met a few passengers with whom we enjoyed dining (which was a white lie).   When we later ran into that same hostess we had a friendly chat during which I told her the old cruise line joke (she was young and had not heard it).  It was something like, Once upon a time there was a British Lady (like in Duchess) who was issued an invitation to dine with the Captain while sailing on one of the famous "Queens."  She responded, "Sir, I do not dine with the hired help."  :).

 

I will admit that there are two Captains that we would dine with anytime :).  One is a recently retired HAL Captain who became a friend.  The other is a Celebrity Captain (Captain Demitrius) who is one of the funniest people we have ever met.  An evening at his table will always be the best entertainment on the ship!  As to Princess, I think most of the senior officers now try to avoid the passengers :).

Hank 

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lolane1

lolane1

Posted
Posted

I haven't been to the lounge in years but did so recently on the Sapphire Princess.  What a disappointment.  It really changed from a lovely spread to what you all are describing.  It was a big let down, besides the sewage smell ( a problem the Sapphire had in a number of areas)

 

 

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Mike45LC

Mike45LC

Posted
Posted

While on a cruise, I am rarely starving enough to subject myself to the Elite Lounge just for their lousy appetizers and slightly discounted drinks.  If I'm hungry, I'll grab some food elsewhere.  (Same thing with the Capt's Cocktail Party.)   If I'm thirsty, well, except during the Safety At Sea, there is rarely a problem on board with getting a drink!

 

Sometimes, there are pleasant conversations but I can talk to people anywhere on the ship, I don't need the so-called Elite Lounge for that.

 

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boca7

boca7

Posted
Posted
On 10/20/2018 at 8:45 PM, fishywood said:

Even if asked to show your cruise card when first arriving--which only happens when the lounge is in a shared venue that non-P/E/S pax can wander through (as on Island Princess where it is in a corner of Explorer's Lounge)--I'm sure just one person in the group flashing a platinum or black card is more than adequate. But extremely unlikely to be necessary at all. Though I would still make sure that someone with said card is the one that pays, at least the first time you show up; on subsequent visits you should be recognized and not questioned at all.

As long as the plat/elite member pays for the drinks anyone else can be there.

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california and cruising

california and cruising

Posted
Posted

We just got off a 4 day cruise, and prior they had a captains party, but they phased it out on the short cruise. We never received any information about the Elite lounge. This time we never received any mention of any Platinum benefits. I actually went to the reception desk and she asked did we receive X Y & Z.  I told her nothing has been presented or mentioned, she said she will make a notation. We missed everything.

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nukesubsailor

nukesubsailor

Posted
Posted
22 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

in the suite PDF they list 'exclusive disembarkation lounge'

 

specific to regal what would this be?

This would be the location where you are to wait until your disembarkation color and number is called to leave the ship. On the Regal it was held in the Vista lounge, deck 7, aft.  There will be coffee, juices, water, tea and pastries.

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luckyinpa

luckyinpa

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, nukesubsailor said:

This would be the location where you are to wait until your disembarkation color and number is called to leave the ship. On the Regal it was held in the Vista lounge, deck 7, aft.  There will be coffee, juices, water, tea and pastries.

 

ah ok . last year we waited in the casino for the self carry off. heck id be happy for some grub while i was waiting ..and a seat maybe. 

 

is there an exit on 7 or do you walk down to 6?

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nukesubsailor

nukesubsailor

Posted
Posted
11 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

 

ah ok . last year we waited in the casino for the self carry off. heck id be happy for some grub while i was waiting ..and a seat maybe. 

 

is there an exit on 7 or do you walk down to 6?

It all depends on how high the terminal's gangway can reach.  The tide can make a difference also.  Most likely you will exit on deck 6.

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caribill

caribill

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

in the suite PDF they list 'exclusive disembarkation lounge'

 

specific to regal what would this be?

 

The "exclusive disembarkation lounge" is available for full suite, platinum and elite passengers. The location could be in different places on different sailings. A likely place on the Regal could be the Vista Lounge. Some cruises have so many people eligible to use the lounge (sometimes over half the passengers) that it is better to wait elsewhere.

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Thrak

Thrak

Posted
Posted

We definitely have enjoyed the "Platinum", etc. disembarkation lounge. If there is a separate one for Elites and Suites then they are very welcome to it. When we see people lined up in the companionway in the photo area and sitting on the floor and such we totally appreciate being able to go to Club Fusion or somewhere like that to enjoy a nice table seating with juice, coffee, water, etc. On a cruise last October we had champagne splits in our cabin from the beverage package. We took them to the disembarkation lounge and combined them with the complimentary orange juice for pre-disembarkation Mimosas. Two splits made two mimosas each. It is sooooooooooooooo much nicer than being packed into the hallways or the casino, etc. (We don't usually have the beverage package but still appreciate the more comfortable surroundings while awaiting disembarkation.) Simple perks of this sort are, to me, more important than "free laundry", "shoe shines", etc. We aren't yet Elite but do enjoy the Platinum benefits.

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luckyinpa

luckyinpa

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, Thrak said:

We definitely have enjoyed the "Platinum", etc. disembarkation lounge. If there is a separate one for Elites and Suites then they are very welcome to it. When we see people lined up in the companionway in the photo area and sitting on the floor and such we totally appreciate being able to go to Club Fusion or somewhere like that to enjoy a nice table seating with juice, coffee, water, etc. On a cruise last October we had champagne splits in our cabin from the beverage package. We took them to the disembarkation lounge and combined them with the complimentary orange juice for pre-disembarkation Mimosas. Two splits made two mimosas each. It is sooooooooooooooo much nicer than being packed into the hallways or the casino, etc. (We don't usually have the beverage package but still appreciate the more comfortable surroundings while awaiting disembarkation.) Simple perks of this sort are, to me, more important than "free laundry", "shoe shines", etc. We aren't yet Elite but do enjoy the Platinum benefits.

 

i like this description and i'm assuming the self disembarks get same/earlier time than the other guests in the casino?  or are all selfs in casino regardless?

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chrysalis

chrysalis

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, caribill said:

 

The "exclusive disembarkation lounge" is available for full suite, platinum and elite passengers. The location could be in different places on different sailings. A likely place on the Regal could be the Vista Lounge. Some cruises have so many people eligible to use the lounge (sometimes over half the passengers) that it is better to wait elsewhere.

On the Royal the "lounge" has also been in the mid-ship, deck 6 dining room.

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Colo Cruiser

Colo Cruiser

Posted
Posted
39 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

 

i like this description and i'm assuming the self disembarks get same/earlier time than the other guests in the casino?  or are all selfs in casino regardless?

We quit using it years ago because they used to have someone at the door screening.

Now its a free for all with anyone coming in and it gets really crowded.

We eat breakfast in the DR and relax there until they close at 8:30.

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