Elite status and the perks

[Times Prince]

...the couples slipped past them and got on the tender, going to the top of the tender in the open area. Halfway to the ship, it started to rain and then downpour; they were completely soaked by the time they got back on the ship. :)

God works in mysterious ways! ... and has a sense of humor, too !!!:rolleyes:

[CruiseAholic]

This Saturday when I embark the Coral Princess in Acapulco, it will be my 56th Princess cruise.

 

Line jumping is not a 'perk' .... but .... on more than several cruises, if a Matre'd, head waiters, etc recognize, I've been automatically moved to the front of the line. I don't usually have to make reservations, just go to the reservation side and am escorted in.

[DougH]

CruiseAholic of course they recognize you, once they sail with you it's hard for them to forget! I know you enjoyed that late entarnce into the dining room every night on the Grand TA :) You and J have a great cruise on the Coral

[CruiseAholic]

Thanks Doug...I guess my reputation preceedes me....

[Julia’s Journey’s]

I read something in a different thread but didn't want to highjack so I started this one.

 

The poster commented about her now being Elite was able to show up at Anytime Dining and line jump ahead of everyone else waiting.

 

So I gotta ask you experienced Princess cruisers.... Is this true? Once you reach "Elite" status, you can jump ahead of us common folk in Anytime Dining? If this was true, I don't think I like that idea if I were waiting for a table and got scooped... :mad:

 

Don't get me wrong.... I'm all for the perks for the loyal Princess customers. But at whose expense? Perks like free Internet and laundry have little to no negative effect especially the free laundry as it would probably free up the laundry room for the rest of us.

 

Does Priority tendering off the Ship have a negative effect to the rest of the pax? Another poster in another thread made a comment that they had to wait a bit for a tender back to the ship so the Elite should get priority to tender back... Again... It would be at the expense of the others waiting too.

 

Am I wrong for having this opinion? We are going on our first Princess cruise in five days so I wonder if this is how they do things...

 

Thank you... :)

 

I agree with you - some folks like to throw their 'power' around and think they are better than the next person - you will never change that it doesn't matter what the 'rules' are some will try be 'better' by demanding things and feel entitled.

 

Don't let these folks ruin your cruise - go enjoy and have fun:D

[booklady26]

This Elite member would never use her black card as an excuse to jump the line in the dining room. I have no problem if I have to wait for a table.

 

When tendering into port, we directly go down to the tender embarkation area which is exactly what Elite members are instructed to do. If there is no tender there, there is also no line. When the tender comes in we are allowed to get on before the people with tickets come down.

 

If we arrive at the embarkation area and there were people lined up to get on the tender, we would not jump to the front of the line. The perk is not having to get a tender ticket and wait for your number to be called not to go to the head of the line.

 

Coming back to the ship, we stand in line just like everyone else. No perk there.

 

The priority check in line is for Platinum and Elite members as well as suite passengers. When I've sailed on other cruise lines and don't qualify for their priorty check in, I don't feel slighted when I have to wait in long lines.

 

Like others have said, free laundry & dry cleaning is the absolute best Elite perk.

[rcacace]

This Elite member would never use her black card as an excuse to jump the line in the dining room. I have no problem if I have to wait for a table.

 

When tendering into port, we directly go down to the tender embarkation area which is exactly what Elite members are instructed to do. If there is no tender there, there is also no line. When the tender comes in we are allowed to get on before the people with tickets come down.

 

If we arrive at the embarkation area and there were people lined up to get on the tender, we would not jump to the front of the line. The perk is not having to get a tender ticket and wait for your number to be called not to go to the head of the line.

 

Coming back to the ship, we stand in line just like everyone else. No perk there.

 

The priority check in line is for Platinum and Elite members as well as suite passengers. When I've sailed on other cruise lines and don't qualify for their priorty check in, I don't feel slighted when I have to wait in long lines.

 

Like others have said, free laundry & dry cleaning is the absolute best Elite perk.

 

It's interesting the way that you can rationalize utilizing the priority tender boarding but can't justify any priority in the AT DR if it were offered. If such a perk were part of the Elite benefits, no one on line would even know you were "jumping in front of them" and would have very little effect upon the waiting time.

Priority tender boarding from land to the ship is another matter entirely as everyone in line can see people bypassing them which would create lots of negative feelings.

Perhaps some day it will happen. Just look at RCI which now has reserved seating in the ice skating arena, show lounge & a reserved section by the pool for suite guests.

[NorcalGuy]

The priority disembarkation has been an Elite perk for quite a while and I've used it a couple of times -- very discretely. And no, I don't think it should be a perk returning to the ship since you have a choice as to what time you re-board.

 

I've told this story before but a couple of years ago, while on a South American cruise, we were at Puerto Montt, waiting in a huge line (for well over an hour) to board the tender to return to the ship. Two beautifully dressed couples -- the ladies with silk dresses, the men in suits and ties -- tried twice to push their way to the head of the line claiming they were Elite. They were turned away twice by staff telling them that Elite passengers do not get priority embarkation going back to the ship. The staff turned their attention to getting a couple of wheelchair passengers onto the ship and the couples slipped past them and got on the tender, going to the top of the tender in the open area. Halfway to the ship, it started to rain and then downpour; they were completely soaked by the time they got back on the ship. :)

LOL! That's Karma baby...

[sackman]

I'll be on my first cruise as elite in February. Looking forward to cutting in the line every night. WOOT!!!! ;)