Priority Access

[la boca 79]

I just purchased this with the intent on getting through the line faster (I am just a Bronze member), getting my Vibe passes, and getting to some of the other things that can't be booked online. By the time I am finished with that, people will still be in the huge lines. I have a day in port where I won't be getting off the ship because everything I would have wanted to see will be closed that day. For me, this package is going to be worth its weight in gold.

[Happycrafter123]

Looking for feedback from someone who has used this feature recently, and in particular how the debarkation works.

 

i am considering it as I’ve heard of mayhem on debarkation and so have a flight to get to.  I will have carry on only.  So if you are carrying your stuff off is there any benefit to the priority access?  Do you just join the mass of crowds rushing the exit or is there any benefit on That debarkation on final day when carrying your stuff?

[JennaMae]

12 hours ago, Happycrafter123 said:

Looking for feedback from someone who has used this feature recently, and in particular how the debarkation works.

 

i am considering it as I’ve heard of mayhem on debarkation and so have a flight to get to.  I will have carry on only.  So if you are carrying your stuff off is there any benefit to the priority access?  Do you just join the mass of crowds rushing the exit or is there any benefit on That debarkation on final day when carrying your stuff?

We were just on the Prima in Port Canaveral and had Priority Access, for disembarking we had a meeting point and a member of the staff escorted us to the exit of the ship.  We still had to wait in the customs line though, with everyone else.  

Which took about 30 mins!

[sailingships]

On 6/3/2021 at 8:45 PM, CaptainWoody said:

I'm guessing that many on the NCL sub-forum have no idea what an FTTF is.

First To The Fun But they go on right before the regular folk and after all the Platinums etc 

[genealogyfan]

Just an FYI- at least in San Juan there is no separate line for priority access. It’s a waste of money. I specifically asked too. This is for embarkation.

Edited April 16, 2023 by genealogyfan

[Happycrafter123]

2 hours ago, JennaMae said:

We were just on the Prima in Port Canaveral and had Priority Access, for disembarking we had a meeting point and a member of the staff escorted us to the exit of the ship.  We still had to wait in the customs line though, with everyone else.  

Which took about 30 mins!

Thank you @JennaMae!  Were you carrying your own stuff/no bags to collect from them?

[JennaMae]

4 hours ago, Happycrafter123 said:

Thank you @JennaMae!  Were you carrying your own stuff/no bags to collect from them?

We let them take our bags, but they were in a separate area for pickup from the majority of luggage!

[Happycrafter123]

I’m trying to figure out if we are just walking off without checked bags if there is any advantage on debarkation

[jennie313]

We purchased the Priority Access package, and I was left feeling scammed. Please note that this is only my personal experience and opinion, but it is a purchase I severely regret making. If you are taking the spa credit into consideration in your decision, please see my post to the spa pricing menu and what services that credit is applicable to.

 

Please do not trust what anyone tells you (even NCL representatives). Do your research before purchasing. After asking specifically if I would be able to get a dip or shellac manicure with my $50 credit - that I would be able to use it just for a manicure, I later found out this was not the case.

 

In addition, the free room service for breakfast only covered the $4.95 continental options and we often only received enough food for 2 of the 4 people in our cabin.

 

While I was told beforehand that I could get a refund if I didn't find the package lived up to my expectations, this also was not the case - even after immediately going to guest services within an hour of boarding and learning these facts.

 

Please note that NO refunds are available on this package once you set foot on the ship.

 

With two teenagers and a family of ADHDers (myself included), the package *might* be worth the price for the priority boarding benefit, but we arrived early enough to be among the first people on the ship anyway, so I can not evaluate the reality of this portion of the package.

 

This is not me complaining, but rather sharing my experience in the hopes that it helps someone else with an informed decision. Please take my opinion with a grain of salt, but for me - this package is a waste of money at best and is swimming in "scam" territory.

 

Buyer beware

 

 

[southern reader]

On 10/12/2021 at 9:15 PM, Happycrafter123 said:

If one gets the priority access and then later upgrades to Haven, can they get refund on the priority access?  

Hi @Happycrafter123, did you get the priority access?  If so, was it worth it at least for the tenders?  Thanks

[MCMC100]

I can’t speak to the overall value of package as everyone’s opinion and interests are subjective.  However, I read the comments regarding the tenders and it reinforced my thought that priority in your mind may not match the definition of priority at NCL. A more accurate description seems to be - “You’re not first. You’re first in line to be brought to the area where we have everyone wait in line,” 
 

I have never understood priority embarkation or disembarkation. What is it?  

Embarkation has always seemed somewhat chaotic.  Boarding has often seemed like a Black Friday 60” inch tv sale at Walmart to me. I was on the Bliss just before Covid and boarded early to get the Vibe. I talked with people who paid extra for “priority boarding” and were behind me in line for the Vibe. They weren’t thrilled  All I did to priority embark was show up at the pier before them. 
 

About half the time I take my luggage off with me and depart the ship very early. Grab my suitcase, wander to the designated disembarkation point, say goodbye to security, walk off, hail a cab by 915am. On cruises where I don’t carry my luggage off I have always found myself at the mercy of the dock workers unloading the luggage. 

Do they remove priority disembark luggage first and place it somewhere for priority access?  If not, where you going?In my experience, no one can enter “luggage hall” until every duffel bag and dented Samsonite has been removed from the ship.
 

Aren’t you just the front of the line waiting for luggage?  Are you paying just to leave the ship and wait on the gangplank until 3,800 pieces of luggage are removed? Why not wait in the buffet with coffee and an omelette?  You may “priority disembark” at 915 but if your luggage is still sitting in the bowel of the ship until 1030 what difference does it make?  If you’re in a hurry and physically capable, take your luggage with you, for free. You will be off the ship before some people are awake. 

 

Am I missing something?  

 

[Happycrafter123]

We found the priority access expensive and not sure on value, but it really did help with embarcation and disembarkation on a full ship.  
 

we were able to get boarding group 1 on embarcation so were with the first set of folks on board, instead of boarding group 11 they were going to give us, and we did not have to wait long for check in as there was a separate line.   
 

as for disembarkation there was a huge line of folks waiting to walk off and we were able to by pass that via a separate exit so off the ship in about 5 minutes rather likely 30-40.

 

there was an option to exit ship for tender early too as below

what would have made it seem more worthwhile was to get priority for tender on RETURN to ship on tender ports but that is not included.

 

it was a port intensive cruise so did not take advantage of the spa credits but did get the daily room service for breakfast.

 

all in all not sure it was worth the cost but it did smooth out the process and save us time both on and off.

 

 We got it as we had a tight schedule to get to airport on day of disembarkation and so I am glad we got it.

 

 

Edited June 3, 2023 by Happycrafter123

[golden6911]

Interesting - when is this usually offered?  I don't see it for my August cruise. 

[Happycrafter123]

You can acquire it at time of doing your online check in at about day 21 it is one of the options in the check in process, or if it does not show up you call ncl customer service and they add it on.  

[sbnuggie]

On 6/3/2023 at 6:20 AM, Happycrafter123 said:

We found the priority access expensive and not sure on value, but it really did help with embarcation and disembarkation on a full ship.  
 

we were able to get boarding group 1 on embarcation so were with the first set of folks on board, instead of boarding group 11 they were going to give us, and we did not have to wait long for check in as there was a separate line.   
 

as for disembarkation there was a huge line of folks waiting to walk off and we were able to by pass that via a separate exit so off the ship in about 5 minutes rather likely 30-40.

 

there was an option to exit ship for tender early too as below

what would have made it seem more worthwhile was to get priority for tender on RETURN to ship on tender ports but that is not included.

 

it was a port intensive cruise so did not take advantage of the spa credits but did get the daily room service for breakfast.

 

all in all not sure it was worth the cost but it did smooth out the process and save us time both on and off.

 

 We got it as we had a tight schedule to get to airport on day of disembarkation and so I am glad we got it.

 

 

Hello, Im looking at your photo here... Thanks by the way.... We will be on the Pearl stopping at Santorini in late August and am considering the priority access as both in Santorini and Mykonos there will be 6 ships in port each day, so we want to get off quick and early.  For Santorini how was the experience with this program.  Thanks