What does Latitudes "Priority Check-in / Embarkation" mean?

[Markanddonna]

Does this mean we can board at whatever time we wish?  

[vince_g]

It means there will be a separate check in line for Platinum and above. Usually you will be given a group 1 boarding pass, and group 1 boards right after the haven/suites.

[spanishguy1970]

50 minutes ago, Markanddonna said:

Does this mean we can board at whatever time we wish?  

nope, remember, they have to clean the ship and staterooms, boarding usually starts at 11 am.

[Markanddonna]

2 hours ago, spanishguy1970 said:

nope, remember, they have to clean the ship and staterooms, boarding usually starts at 11 am.

That's what I meant.  I was wondering if we have to be assigned or adhere to the boarding time now assigned on your travel documents.

[graphicguy]

NCL has been pretty strict with boarding times.

 

It goes…

 

1.  People with physical disabilities (crutches, wheelchairs, etc)

2.  Haven

3.  Platinum Latitudes and above

4.  EVerybody else

 

Haven guests can usually board whenever they want, as long as the ship has been cleared for new passengers.  But, I saw some people in July who were there early and told to wait until their assigned boarding time. 

[BirdTravels]

4 hours ago, Markanddonna said:

Does this mean we can board at whatever time we wish?  

You show up at the time you selected at check in. There will be a separate checkin line for you (which is sometimes longer than general checkin). You board by your boarding group given to you. 

[ChiefMateJRK]

They call for Platinum before group 1. 

[vacation44]

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

NCL has been pretty strict with boarding times.

 

It goes…

 

1.  People with physical disabilities (crutches, wheelchairs, etc)

2.  Haven

3.  Platinum Latitudes and above

4.  EVerybody else

 

Haven guests can usually board whenever they want, as long as the ship has been cleared for new passengers.  But, I saw some people in July who were there early and told to wait until their assigned boarding time. 

I could be mistaken, but I believe Haven goes first, then people with physical disabilities.    When we last traveled with my dad, we had to wait until after Haven boarded.

[graphicguy]

21 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

I could be mistaken, but I believe Haven goes first, then people with physical disabilities.    When we last traveled with my dad, we had to wait until after Haven boarded.

Could be right.  I’ve actually seen ivy both ways, with disabled and Have guests swapping boarding times.

[phillygwm]

9 hours ago, Markanddonna said:

That's what I meant.  I was wondering if we have to be assigned or adhere to the boarding time now assigned on your travel documents.

You seem to be using the term "boarding" when you mean check-in.  There is a separate check-in line for Platinum and above (and yet another for Haven.)  You should still show up at your assigned time but not sure how strictly that's enforced lately.

 

That said, if you have an early check-in, you won't be able to board immediately.  The ship has to be at a "zero count" (i.e. everyone from the previous cruise is disembarked) before they start boarding.  Then, as others have stated above, it's usually Haven, then Platinum and higher, then the numeric groups.

 

Even once you're boarded, you won't be able to get to your room immediately but you can at least grab a bite in one of the restaurants.

[ChiefMateJRK]

3 hours ago, phillygwm said:

Even once you're boarded, you won't be able to get to your room immediately but you can at least grab a bite in one of the restaurants.

Why on earth do I care when I get to my room?  I'm on the cruise!!!  I can not only "grab a bite," but I can also grab a drink, wander around the many exciting ship venues, and just start rolling around in the fun!  My bags CAN WAIT.  Some folks here can't wait to get out of their rooms at the end of the cruise.  Very strange....

[thedarklord]

Can someone with Latitudes Gold travelling with a Platinum use the priority line as well?

[phillygwm]

6 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Why on earth do I care when I get to my room?  I'm on the cruise!!!  I can not only "grab a bite," but I can also grab a drink, wander around the many exciting ship venues, and just start rolling around in the fun!  My bags CAN WAIT.  Some folks here can't wait to get out of their rooms at the end of the cruise.  Very strange....

I like getting into my room ASAP.  I can drop my carry-on, maybe change clothes, make sure any special requests I made were accommodated, etc.  But I always board at first opportunity and rooms aren't prepared.  It isn't a big deal so I usually find a bar or restaurant to kill time until rooms are available.  

[phillygwm]

1 hour ago, thedarklord said:

Can someone with Latitudes Gold travelling with a Platinum use the priority line as well?

Yes.  I've done this.  Certainly if you're in the same room it's expected.  But I've also brought people travelling in other rooms to check-in with me.  

[CaptainBazz]

20 hours ago, graphicguy said:

NCL has been pretty strict with boarding times.

 

It goes…

 

1.  People with physical disabilities (crutches, wheelchairs, etc)

2.  Haven

3.  Platinum Latitudes and above

4.  EVerybody else

 

Haven guests can usually board whenever they want, as long as the ship has been cleared for new passengers.  But, I saw some people in July who were there early and told to wait until their assigned boarding time. 

We just sailed on the Bliss. Boarding was slightly different to what you have:

 

1. Priority Boarding

2. People with disabilities

3. Platinum Latitudes and above

4. In order, groups 1,2,3 etc.

 

Have were taken on separately from a different area.

 

Maybe it depends on the port.

 

 

[Sunseeker810]

I also think that it depends on which port you sail from.  I am sapphire and a casino guest.  In Miami, there was a separate area, and we boarded early.  Not the same case for Boston.  We checked in early (priority), but you still sit with the masses.  No group one, just what ever they were handing out at the time.  The hold area in Boston is small, so maybe that is why?

[KeithJenner]

1 hour ago, CaptainBazz said:

Maybe it depends on the port.

 

 

This is basically the answer to this whole thread.

[joanna0627]

Just got off the Joy, 10 day Canada and New England.  I’m a Sapphire member.  There is no priority given at all to boarding.  Was hoping that we would see some other benefits while on board but Nope.  Same as disembarkation.  Nothing.  Very disappointed.  Other than 4 water bottles and 6 very small strawberries.  After 30+ cruises with NCL I think it’s time to go back to Celebrity.

[TrumpyNor]

12 hours ago, joanna0627 said:

Just got off the Joy, 10 day Canada and New England.  I’m a Sapphire member.  There is no priority given at all to boarding.  Was hoping that we would see some other benefits while on board but Nope.  Same as disembarkation.  Nothing.  Very disappointed.  Other than 4 water bottles and 6 very small strawberries.  After 30+ cruises with NCL I think it’s time to go back to Celebrity.

Unfortunately this varies quite a bit from ship to ship when crusing with NCL. My husband and I have Diamond status with Latitudes. Did one cruise on the Gem the last week of July, ship at just above 50% passenger capacity - except for the priority check-in and boarding (we were on board the ship less than 20 minutes after we arrived at the pier, and we arrived just before 11.00 AM) there were not any "special threatment" on board the ship (except for the "entitled" Diamond benefits). The following week we were on the Escape for 10 days - full ship (4.300 passengers), and both my husband and I were "threated like roalty" the entire cruise. I actually asked the CruiseNext manager how many other passengers with Diamond status there were on board, and the answer was that we were the only ones. There were also no-one with Ambassador status among the 4.300 passengers - so maybe that is why my husband and I received all this VIP threatment instead..... 

 

But the general manager on board the Escape actually said on several occations when we spoke to him that he and his staff considered both returning passengs (ALL Latitude members)  and CruiseCritic members to be people to give special attention.

Edited September 22, 2022 by TrumpyNor

[MissCG]

We just became Platinum so that is disappointing as I was looking forward to "Priority Check-in / Embarkation" from NYC. There are other benefits that sound good though, like 2 specialty dinners (limited $ value), a behind-the-scenes tour, free bag of laundry, wine tasting and some other meaningless things. Are these available and awarded? I like Celebrity but it takes a lot longer to move to a new tier with them!

[ChiefMateJRK]

12 minutes ago, MissCG said:

We just became Platinum so that is disappointing as I was looking forward to "Priority Check-in / Embarkation" from NYC.

Priority check in means that once through security, you get in an express line to the check in counter.  Priority embarkation means you are called to board before group 1.   This is how it has worked our last three cruises.

[Lucky Dude 2101]

1 hour ago, MissCG said:

We just became Platinum so that is disappointing as I was looking forward to "Priority Check-in / Embarkation" from NYC. There are other benefits that sound good though, like 2 specialty dinners (limited $ value), a behind-the-scenes tour, free bag of laundry, wine tasting and some other meaningless things. Are these available and awarded? I like Celebrity but it takes a lot longer to move to a new tier with them!

From what I’ve seen, there is no behind the scenes offered any more. I am bummed by that as we became Platinum after our last cruise and was looking forward to that perk. 
 

I am curious about the wine tasting though. 

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, MissCG said:

We just became Platinum so that is disappointing as I was looking forward to "Priority Check-in / Embarkation" from NYC. There are other benefits that sound good though, like 2 specialty dinners (limited $ value), a behind-the-scenes tour, free bag of laundry, wine tasting and some other meaningless things. Are these available and awarded? I like Celebrity but it takes a lot longer to move to a new tier with them!

In NYC you have a Platinum check in line. 

You have a Platinum waiting area

And  you will be, technically, boarded immediately after the Haven

You get a free bag of laundry

You get the Around the World wine tasting

At this instant in time, they are still not allowing germy guests behind the scenes

You get a private latitudes party (drinks and cheese) 

 

You get two free specialty dinners at any restaurant (one with a bottle of wine) - no $$$ limit, but a limit of one app, one entree, and one dessert. 

 

Edited November 12, 2022 by BirdTravels

[ChiefMateJRK]

10 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

At this instant in time, they are still not allowing germy guests behind the scenes

I thought the excuse was Covid?  Is it now germs?

[jjjct]

14 hours ago, Lucky Dude 2101 said:

From what I’ve seen, there is no behind the scenes offered any more. I am bummed by that as we became Platinum after our last cruise and was looking forward to that perk. 
 

I am curious about the wine tasting though. 

Was on the Joy end of August. No behind the scene tour. Wine tasting was offered but was mid morning (I think 10AM) so did not sign up. A bit too early for me.