Do suite passengers get priority disembarkation and priority tendering?

[mgcharleston]

I am scheduled to sail in a window suite on the Caribbean Princess this summer on a very port intensive itinerary. Can anyone confirm for me that suite passengers get priority tendering during the cruise and priority disembarkation on the last morning? It's going to make a difference on some of the excursions I book timing wise.

If anyone has stayed in one of these window suites, I would be happy to hear your thoughts on it as well  🙂

TIA!!!

[CatMom72]

https://www.princess.com/en-us/ships-and-experience/ships/staterooms/suites

 

Priority tender is a benefit for full suites.

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, mgcharleston said:

I am scheduled to sail in a window suite on the Caribbean Princess this summer on a very port intensive itinerary. Can anyone confirm for me that suite passengers get priority tendering during the cruise and priority disembarkation on the last morning? It's going to make a difference on some of the excursions I book timing wise.

If anyone has stayed in one of these window suites, I would be happy to hear your thoughts on it as well  🙂

TIA!!!

Being in a suite will indeed get you priority tendering.  You will also be able to choose whatever disembarkation time you would like.  They should have a special area for you to meet before you disembark, if you choose a later time 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HBCcruiser]

3 hours ago, mgcharleston said:

If anyone has stayed in one of these window suites, I would be happy to hear your thoughts on it as well  🙂

I have not but know that @cr8tiv1 has and loves them. I am sure she will be happy to fill you in on these suites. All suits get priority boarding, disembarkation, and tendering as stated above. Your concierge will assist you with this. Enjoy your cruise! 

Edited January 24 by HBCcruiser

[milolii]

@HBCcruiser is there a concierge on the Caribbean Princess?  I know there are rumors about this and a lounge on the ships that aren’t Royal Class. That would be nice.

[cr8tiv1]

@mgcharleston Yes, I have stayed in window suites on the Grand and the Caribbean (and prior Golden).  But I have been sworn to secrecy not to divulge how great these suites are.  They are full suites and the location is wonderful.  I do not miss a balcony.  

 

@HBCcruiser Thanks for sharing.

 

@milolii It is not a rumor.  I have been on Grand/GEM class ships (no concierge lounge), but have had the services of a concierge hostess.  The position has been assigned to the previous loyalty/captain circle person.  Now, the events officer (via customer service) will take care of your needs.  Not as convenient, but will assist you with things that you need.  Really did not need to ask them to do too much for me.  

[milolii]

@cr8tiv1 That’s fantastic.  Ty.  Now if there was a lounge……. 

[HBCcruiser]

11 minutes ago, milolii said:

@cr8tiv1 That’s fantastic.  Ty.  Now if there was a lounge……. 

On the CB the suites were invited to the elite lounge for happy hour and drinks. During our cruise it was held in sky walkers. Here is the letter we received.

 

Edited January 25 by HBCcruiser

[milolii]

@HBCcruiser ty, that’s great. 

[cr8tiv1]

Since the start of the pseudo concierge, Caribbean Princess has held a meet and greet with the officers' cocktail hour (once per cruise) for suite passengers ONLY.  The officers mingled with passengers and I've had some great conversations with them in a very intimate setting.  Good pupus too and any drink you want.  It is intended to make up for the lack of a lounge. I stopped going to the loyalty captain's party (too huge/crowds).

 

I've had the Events officer call me in my room, chat with me in the halls, and even paid me a visit while I was enjoying my suite breakfast.  

 

If you have a Beverage package, then you really aren't going to miss out on very much. 

[Steelers36]

8 hours ago, mgcharleston said:

I am scheduled to sail in a window suite on the Caribbean Princess this summer on a very port intensive itinerary. Can anyone confirm for me that suite passengers get priority tendering during the cruise and priority disembarkation on the last morning? It's going to make a difference on some of the excursions I book timing wise.

If anyone has stayed in one of these window suites, I would be happy to hear your thoughts on it as well  🙂

TIA!!!

Hate to disappoint, but any guest that wants to depart the ship early on final morning can do so.  You do get a special waiting lounge area, but there is no special pecking order for departing the ship.  First off are those guests who handle their own bags and nothing to pick up in the terminal building.

[westcoastBC]

2 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Hate to disappoint, but any guest that wants to depart the ship early on final morning can do so.  You do get a special waiting lounge area, but there is no special pecking order for departing the ship.  First off are those guests who handle their own bags and nothing to pick up in the terminal building.

When disembarking off the Discovery in October we gathered I believe in the Princess Live lounge and when the doors were about to open we were escorted through a back door of Crooners to the front of the line.

First off.

[Steelers36]

13 minutes ago, westcoastBC said:

When disembarking off the Discovery in October we gathered I believe in the Princess Live lounge and when the doors were about to open we were escorted through a back door of Crooners to the front of the line.

First off.

I suppose I have never cared to be the first person off the ship.  Was this a self-disembarking group?

 

I don't see how being the first (in general sense) off the ship means much.  Unless chasing a very early flight departure (which is a risk in itself).  Being among the very first ONTO a ship does mean something if one is looking to book certain amenities.

[nini]

We did self disembarking off the Grand in Vancouver, BC. As far as I could tell, we were the very first off of the ship. No one else was in sight. And we are not Elite nor did we have a suite.

[westcoastBC]

5 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

I suppose I have never cared to be the first person off the ship.  Was this a self-disembarking group?

 

I don't see how being the first (in general sense) off the ship means much.  Unless chasing a very early flight departure (which is a risk in itself).  Being among the very first ONTO a ship does mean something if one is looking to book certain amenities.

My point was that suites do have priority.

[mgcharleston]

Many thanks to everyone who chimed in and the letter was super helpful. I have heard that WS were a good thing but there isn't much info out there on them... maybe that's for a strategic reason 😁 priority tendering is important because I am trying to time tour pickups and tendering always make that a crapshoot as we all know...

[skynight]

Disembarkation. You can select any time you wish. If you happen to receive a disembarkation time you don't like then just visit passenger services. Early walk off begins around 7am. It's available to everyone. You wheel off all your own luggage. If you want that just ask. 

[azbirdmom]

11 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Hate to disappoint, but any guest that wants to depart the ship early on final morning can do so.  You do get a special waiting lounge area, but there is no special pecking order for departing the ship.  First off are those guests who handle their own bags and nothing to pick up in the terminal building.

For our last two cruises in a full suite (the most recent last month) we were given a luggage tag that allowed us to leave the ship at our leisure.  We were given a window of time to leave.  The first cruise the window started at the same time as the walk offs, the second time it was 15 minutes later.  So yes, that IS what I would call priority disembarkation.

[Steelers36]

3 hours ago, westcoastBC said:

My point was that suites do have priority.

 

59 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

For our last two cruises in a full suite (the most recent last month) we were given a luggage tag that allowed us to leave the ship at our leisure.  We were given a window of time to leave.  The first cruise the window started at the same time as the walk offs, the second time it was 15 minutes later.  So yes, that IS what I would call priority disembarkation.

I agree with both of you, but I have also been able to depart the ship at a time of my choosing.

[startedwithamouse]

9 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

I suppose I have never cared to be the first person off the ship.  Was this a self-disembarking group?

 

I don't see how being the first (in general sense) off the ship means much.  Unless chasing a very early flight departure (which is a risk in itself).  Being among the very first ONTO a ship does mean something if one is looking to book certain amenities.

It means a lot to us on work or school mornings. 

 

We can be home by 8:30am and start our work/school day without taking an extra day off. 

[westcoastBC]

True. When the doors open all can go through. The difference is a suite passenger does not have to stand in line for an hour with their luggage. They go to a lounge and enjoy a cup of coffee and a cookie.

When the time comes they are escorted to the front of the line.

[JF - retired RRT]

3 hours ago, mgcharleston said:

Many thanks to everyone who chimed in and the letter was super helpful. I have heard that WS were a good thing but there isn't much info out there on them... maybe that's for a strategic reason 😁 priority tendering is important because I am trying to time tour pickups and tendering always make that a crapshoot as we all know...

There are only 2 Grand class ships that have window suites, they're located on deck 5 mid-forward. There are only 7 and they book up fast.

Some Royal class ships have window suites, some do not (from what I could find on the deck plans). When they have them...there are only 2 on each ship. They're located on the Sky deck (17) and are all the way forward. Many don't like the high deck/forward location.

[nini]

59 minutes ago, westcoastBC said:

True. When the doors open all can go through. The difference is a suite passenger does not have to stand in line for an hour with their luggage. They go to a lounge and enjoy a cup of coffee and a cookie.

When the time comes they are escorted to the front of the line.

 

Actually, we are not Elite and have never booked a suite. We signed up for the first walk-off time and were the first off of the ship. We did not "stand in line", but waited comfortably in the Crown Grill.

[azbirdmom]

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

 

I agree with both of you, but I have also been able to depart the ship at a time of my choosing.

 

So you've been able to depart when you want and choose that time the morning of disembarkation with your luggage waiting for you in the terminal?  My last disembarkation was on December 15, 2023 so that must be something very very new if that is the case.

[startedwithamouse]

31 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

 

So you've been able to depart when you want and choose that time the morning of disembarkation with your luggage waiting for you in the terminal?  My last disembarkation was on December 15, 2023 so that must be something very very new if that is the case.

You can swap out luggage tags for the time of your choosing.