New Embarcation Lounge in Ft. Lauderdale

[jmelnick]

1 minute ago, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

Do you have a Princess Cruise Vacation Planner. Call them. They can get you on the list. 

Good idea, but we used an independent TA.

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

1 hour ago, jmelnick said:

Good idea, but we used an independent TA.

Understood.  Then just wait to arrive until boarding has started and you will “cruise” right on the ship. 

Edited March 15 by Sox Fan Cruiser

[worldtraveller]

19 hours ago, jmelnick said:

Sailing on Sunday.  Still haven't gotten "the call". Oh well. Just as long as we get on board, all will be well.

It is closed until 3/22 for "office modifiations" 😞

[cindep]

We are flying into FLL. We have our email invitation to the GO Princess Lounge (full suite on Island Princess). We did not purchase ship transfers as we usually either taxi or Uber to the port. Do we need to get transportation FLL to Princess Headquarters? Starting to get excited as it has been a long time since our last suite experience. Do you still get the thermal suite?

Thank you in advance for the help!

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

21 minutes ago, cindep said:

We are flying into FLL. We have our email invitation to the GO Princess Lounge (full suite on Island Princess). We did not purchase ship transfers as we usually either taxi or Uber to the port. Do we need to get transportation FLL to Princess Headquarters? Starting to get excited as it has been a long time since our last suite experience. Do you still get the thermal suite?

Thank you in advance for the help!

Yes, you need to get to the Go Lounge on your own. Don’t know the answer about the thermal suite. 
 

When are you arriving at FLL?

[cindep]

On 4/2/2024 at 6:25 PM, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

Yes, you need to get to the Go Lounge on your own. Don’t know the answer about the thermal suite. 
 

When are you arriving at FLL?

April 25 boarding Island Princess

[Cruisingawayfromthesnow!]

Make your own way to the lounge - it’s a lovely start to the cruise.

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

4 hours ago, cindep said:

April 25 boarding Island Princess

I meant what time?  The take you to the ship in a first in/first out basis and only take small groups at a time. We waited a long time to head to the ship. But I think they have fixed that model and the van doesn’t sit in that huge line of cars anymore. 

[muffydawg]

1 hour ago, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

I meant what time?  The take you to the ship in a first in/first out basis and only take small groups at a time. We waited a long time to head to the ship. But I think they have fixed that model and the van doesn’t sit in that huge line of cars anymore. 

The emailed invitation you received for the GO Princess Lounge should contain the Lounge operating hours; at least my invitation to the GO Princess Lounge did.

[JimmyVWine]

1 hour ago, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

They take you to the ship in a first in/first out basis and only take small groups at a time. We waited a long time to head to the ship. But I think they have fixed that model and the van doesn’t sit in that huge line of cars anymore. 

With the new Medallion system and app-based check-in, I wonder how long Princess will choose to own and manage this type of off-site lounge.  It seems as if its purpose is to get Suite passengers out of the Ellis Island atmosphere that used to exist at the terminals.  But on my last three cruises, PES passengers were being processed onto the ship about as fast as humanly possible. On our last cruise, we barely made it into the PES waiting area with enough time to grab a glass of orange juice when we were being ushered onto the ship.  And non-PES passengers were getting on almost as quickly. (This was in Southampton).  Given the choice of waiting in this new Lounge where the FI/FO van departure system could cause a long wait as noted above, or simply heading to the terminal to be whisked right onto the ship, what advantage is there to the former?  If, by 11:00 one could be in the International Café or Good Spirits Bar or sitting poolside on the Lido Deck, what advantage is there to an off-site Lounge where one waits frustratingly for the van to return to pick them up?  Seems as if the team that developed this Lounge wasn't really in synch with the team that was developing the app-based check-in system and they were working to solve a problem that doesn't really exist any more.   

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

3 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

With the new Medallion system and app-based check-in, I wonder how long Princess will choose to own and manage this type of off-site lounge.  It seems as if its purpose is to get Suite passengers out of the Ellis Island atmosphere that used to exist at the terminals.  But on my last three cruises, PES passengers were being processed onto the ship about as fast as humanly possible. On our last cruise, we barely made it into the PES waiting area with enough time to grab a glass of orange juice when we were being ushered onto the ship.  And non-PES passengers were getting on almost as quickly. (This was in Southampton).  Given the choice of waiting in this new Lounge where the FI/FO van departure system could cause a long wait as noted above, or simply heading to the terminal to be whisked right onto the ship, what advantage is there to the former?  If, by 11:00 one could be in the International Café or Good Spirits Bar or sitting poolside on the Lido Deck, what advantage is there to an off-site Lounge where one waits frustratingly for the van to return to pick them up?  Seems as if the team that developed this Lounge wasn't really in synch with the team that was developing the app-based check-in system and they were working to solve a problem that doesn't really exist any more.   

I agree with you!  
 

We got to the GO lounge at around 10am ish and didn’t get on the ship until almost 1.  Again they were working out the kinks at that point. 

 

Edited April 4 by Sox Fan Cruiser

[loge23]

On 11/30/2023 at 5:12 PM, Hlitner said:

Princess must be looking to compete with MSC :).  If you are in MSC's Yacht Club (a suite ship within a suite area) you check-in at a white tend right outside the terminal.  From there, you are escorted right through security (no lines) and to a large lounge inside the terminal (unlike Princess, MSC does provide sparkling wine/mimosas and some nice bakery snacks.  When they are ready to board, some of the Butlers escort folks right onto the ship (you walk through and past the lines) where you have reserved elevators to whisk you up to the Yacht Club's lounge.

 

Hank

Princess has a long way to go to even approach the level of service in the Yacht Club - and I'm a Princess fan!

[Hlitner]

5 hours ago, loge23 said:

Princess has a long way to go to even approach the level of service in the Yacht Club - and I'm a Princess fan!

We agree.  Although we still enjoy Princess, it “ain’t” no Yacht Club.

 

Hank

[cindep]

I am the OP. One more question: Are you charged for room service if you didn't purchase the plus package?