Concierge Class - Early Embarkation

[luvocean9]

One of the benefits listed for the concierge class is early embarkation. Does anyone know what that means exactly? Does this mean that if everyone is told that they can embark at 12 noon, then can CC folks embark at say 11:30 am?

[newmexicoNita]

What it meant for us was an utter nightmare. We had CC and were given tickets to report to such and such lounge at a certain time. This was fine, but the lounge was packed and we waited about 90 minutes. We were not particularly thrilled with CC period. NMNita

[Karynanne]

For embarkation or debarkation...When embarking (depending on the port), there is usually a designated CC area. With some ports, it flows extremely well, and with others....well, you just deal with it, get onboard, and forget the whole situation.

 

Karyn

[CAKER]

On the Baltic cruise 8/2004, we missed the signs for the separate area for CC & CC (Captains' Club and Conceirge Class both). When we finally found it, there was almost no wait, vs. long lines for "regular" embarkation in Dover, England.

 

On Southern Caribean cruise 12/31/2005, we zoomed right thru embarkation in San Juan, past lines of "regular" passengers.

 

Similary, on disembarkation, there is a separate room for CC, with breakfast foods, and a relaxing atmosphere until we are called first for our group to get off and get our baggage, based upon our respective accommodations for going home. (They group passengers who have flights, post-cruise excursions, etc., which we think makes sense.)

[jessemon]

We got to the terminal at 12:00 noon. When we entered we were asked for our tickets. They saw we had "CC Class" tickets. We were escorted to a seperate counter (no one in front of us) checked in and greated by the social hostess. Then escorted on board.

The line for other folks was long and waiting to board.

It was great.

[Radiomark]

This will be my first cruise on Celebrity. On Celebrities sister line, Royal Caribbean, we had booked a Junior Suite and had express privileges for embarkation. In San Juan, what we found were two lines, one for regular cruisers, another for JS, regular suites and Platinum members. There was nobody in line in my line and there were 20-30 in line for regular embarkation. My guess is that you would have stood in line in the regular line for no more than 15 minutes or so, although I got to pass through immediately. I have a feeling that all of this will vary from port to port. Have fun on your cruise.

 

Mark

[iandjm]

I have never noticed any early boarding for CC grade, but am always on the ship by midday on the day of embarkation. I loved our CC grade cabin on Millennium

 

 

Ian :D

[BaltiGator]

I'm guessing some terminal ports are well-suited and set-up for this, and others may not be. For one thing, they need more space, additional equipment, and extra personnel to accommodate the "fast lanes."

 

The RCI berths at Fort Lauderdale's port are definitely set up this way. They've got a whole row of embarkation stations lined up like bank tellers. A couple of really long lines were moving at a decent pace for the "riff raff" while the suite/VIP lines were empty, ready for the "more important" pax to zip through. :D

[nikkino]

:) Early embarkation is often dicated by when the ship is cleared of departing passengers. As elite captains club members, we still have had to wait at times.

[C 2 C]

In one port on Galaxy last week, there were 600+ people who had priority disembarkation for buses. If all Concierege class, suites, and elites are given priority to get off first, who should have the highest priority?

The more people who attain priority, the less priority people enjoy.

[luvocean9]

Thanks all. This is good information and some very good points: depends on the port and how many people are "special". IMO, they should call this "priority" embarkation, not "early".

 

Question: Does this priority embarkation/debarkation just apply to the home port, or does it apply to all of the visiting ports as well? (Just experienced one of those nightmare debarkations in Victoria on the Dawn Princess and would like to avoid a repeat.:eek: )

[C 2 C]

Question: Does this priority embarkation/debarkation just apply to the home port, or does it apply to all of the visiting ports as well? (Just experienced one of those nightmare debarkations in Victoria on the Dawn Princess and would like to avoid a repeat.:eek: )

 

It depends on the port. In some locations pax are required to board a bus or tender and then a number is required. If everyone wants off early, a problem will occur for everyone with a priority expectation.

[minniemom]

Has anyone done CC going to Alaska, on Infinity? Some of you mention some ports it is set up better for this, so I am just wondering about Vancover RT, how it is set up. Does anyone know??

[Guest debbiejohncruise]

No we waited in line like everyone else in Dover port. Didn't see a special line at all! Won't book Concierge Class again as I don't think it's worth the extra money. Debbie

[elena7seas]

We had a wonderful trip sailing Concierge Class on the Constellation in November 2005. We arrived at Bayonne at about 11:30 a.m. and were processed immediately, and on board the ship within 10 minutes. We were able to leave our carry-ons in our CC cabin (which was ready for us) and were having lunch in the the buffet by noon.

 

Of course, we fully understand that the speed at which we can be processed will be affected by the number of passengers with priority boarding that arrive at the terminal at the same time that we arrive.:rolleyes: We were very happy that it worked out well for us in this instance.

 

From our perspective, we found the perks of Concierge Class to be worth the small extra charge, so much so that we have booked two CC cabins for upcoming cruises -- one on the Summit later this year and one on the Millenium in 2007. We especially enjoyed the extra cabin space, the pillow menu, the wonderful Concierge breakfast menu (we had breakfast delivered to our cabin balcony every morning), the fresh flowers in the room, and the cushions on the balcony deck chairs. The large, strong Celebrity canvas tote bag came in really handy at the end of the trip for all those little extras we had picked up on our travels :) .

 

We are looking forward very much to our next trip!

[NYteacher]

I just finished paying the balance of our July 8 Zenith voyage to Bermuda (a last minute decision) and I asked what time the early embarkation was. I was told 1:30.

 

Is this the standard time? Should I abide by this? I don't mind not having access to my room, I'd just like to board early. I should mention we're traveling concierge class.

 

We live in New York (as is probably clear from my name), so we can leave any time.

[DrKoob]

Just finished our fourth X cruise. All in CC. Wouldn't do it any other way. I like being treated special.

 

Embarkation: We have never boarded after noon for a 5:00pm sailing. Even if they told us 2:00 pm. We have been aboard eating lunch by noon every time.

We have never stood in line (includes twice in Ft. Lauderdale--one for canal crossing and once for Eastern Caribbean, once in Vancouver, once in SF.)

 

Disembarking for shore excursions: We have found if you have to tender that being CC is the BEST! You get to report to Michael's Club and get tickets for the FIRST tender off the ship. If not tendering, it won't make any difference.

 

Disembarkation: We have had a horrible experience pre Celebrity when disembarking. But since we have started CC with X we have never had to wait more than a very few minutes to leave the ship. In fact we wish they would let us stay a little longer. All four cruises have been at the dock when we awoke and and we have never been off after 9:00 am. WOW! This after a short, three day Carnival cruise that was in at dawn but we couldn't get off before noon.

 

All in all, we love CC and wouldn't sail any other way.

[ali-ali-oh]

No we waited in line like everyone else in Dover port. Didn't see a special line at all! Won't book Concierge Class again as I don't think it's worth the extra money. Debbie

We had priority embarkation for a CC in Dover last Thursday and there were no queues - it was the chaos at parking we had to endure that was the nightmare.

 

While Ian parked the car, I was sat in the "priority" check in area for an age waiting for him to come back, while watching everyone zip through, (nobody waited more than two or three minutes). That said, we arrived at 2.30 because of a pile up on the motorway, although we inteded arriving earlier.

 

The bonus for us was prioity tendering in Guernsey. There were approx 100+ pax waiting in the theatre and we just jumped to the front of the queue (though, I must admit to a twinge of guilt at this point).