Private departure lounge

[LDinCT]

Now that I am at platinum level for my next cruise, what is in the private departure lounge? I assume you wouldn't even use it unless you got to the ship before they were boarding, right? The Mariner has the priority check in for platinum/diamond/suites, right?

[daveky]

Now that I am at platinum level for my next cruise, what is in the private departure lounge? I assume you wouldn't even use it unless you got to the ship before they were boarding, right? The Mariner has the priority check in for platinum/diamond/suites, right?

 

Private departure lounge is when you're getting off of the ship at the end of the cruise. It's located in a private dining room off from the main dining room. Plantinum and Diamond members go there and they are allowed off of the ship first before any others. When the ship is cleared, a phone call is placed (or radio) to your C & A rep who is in the room with you. They lead you off personally from the ship to go thru customs and off you go. Pretty cool.

 

Dave

[jtonra]

Platinum also gets you a private waiting area prior to embarkation if needed. We were on the Radiance for the 4/16 sailing and we got there before they were boarding. Actually, they boarded the ship very late (1:00) due to extra cleaning necessary because of norwalk issues on previous cruise. We got to hang out in a special lounge and got priority tickets. When they were finally ready to board, we got on before the hundreds of people waiting in the main hall. Hopefully you won't need this but it's nice to have if you do.

[LDinCT]

I would assume there are a lot of platinum and diamond members on board. In the hundreds on a Voyager class ship I would guess?

[nanfromatlanta]

Yes, there are a lot of Platinum & Diamond members on board. What they usually do, I was told, is issue the invitation to Diamond members first. Depending on the numbers, they will then issue the invitation to Platinum members.

 

As stated previously, the departure lounge is usually in a small area off of the dining room. Coffee & danish is available.

 

Quite a few people took advantage of it, but not as many as one would expect. It was a nice touch which we have taken advantage of a few times, but not always... depends on our flight time.

 

Often, we just like to sit & relax in the theater or out on the Promenade deck until our color is called. It can be much more comfortable than sitting at a table in the dining room.

[thompson4131]

Priority disembarkation is for Diamond & higher levels only. Occasionally, they will include Platinum if there are a low number of Diamond Members aboard. This feature is the primary reason I wanted to achieve Diamond status. It cuts down your wait time at customs and bus boarding. I would rather get to the airport early than wait in those long lines that form at the bus boarding area & airport security.

[ribarfly]

thompson4131, is correct priorty disembark for diamond and higher, just not sure if an OS suite or higher might get the perk?

We love the priorty disembarktion! Just got off the Serenade on 4/08, the C&A rep escorted us off the ship right thru the waiting crowd. We were #1&2 to log off the ship, the customs officer wasn't even ready yet, he was trying to finish his coffee and get organized, they are in a great mood when your #1. We had an early flight that we could only make due to the priorty disembark, so it's a pretty good perk.

[nanner10]

Am I correct to assume that it is likely to be a different experience on each ship and/or different Ports?

 

We have just achieved Platinum status and have not yet experienced the differences.

[zackiedawg]

Priority disembark is wonderful.

 

I've had various experiences from worst - sitting in unairconditioned stairwells for 3 hours waiting for my 'color'.

 

to best - waking up at 8am, up to diamond waiting lounge by 9:00am, having coffee, and then walking off the ship in a group of 10, escorted past waiting crowds to customs, to our luggage (easy to find when you don't have to fight crowds), portered to a waiting car, and sitting home in my living room by 10am while some people are still waiting on the ship to disembark! (of course, the advantage of living 30 minutes from port also helps).

 

Holland America did a great job last year with their Mariner club too...I think I made it home by 10:30am.

 

It was one of the factors that led me to book Radiance this October...knowing I can get that great, fast on-and-off service with RCCL diamond status.