First cruise as Platinum - Embarkment Question

[kywildcatfanone]

Hi folks,

 

We just booked our first cruise as Platinum members, and I see that one of the benefits is priority embarkation at the port (In this case, FLL). My question is, do you just walk up to a rep and tell them your status and they point you to where to go, or something else?

 

Thanks,

Mike

[Lobez]

There is a priority boarding line that you should be directed to. I was in San Juan and the ships agent directed my wife and I to sit in a waiting area until the embarkation lines were shorter. The priority boarding line was empty. I showed him my boarding pass and pointed to the priority boarding line and was allowed to go there. Got on in minutes. Also, if there is a wait, you should be directed to a platinum lounge where you wait to board.

[paul929207]

Usually, they will have signs for the Priority boarding. If you get there when few people are checking in, it may be one line.

[LENORA516]

If you use a color printer to print your boarding passes they will be a different color and very obvious to the Princess staff, they will direct you to the proper line.

[Toto2Kansas]

At Port Everglades, the priority boarding is to the right (around the corner) of the regular line. So, just look around the corner and you will see another entrance and that is the one you would go to (if you can't find someone to direct you to it). There you will find chairs to sit and wait until boarding begins. It does fill up, so in order to get a seat, I would advise arriving a little earlier than usual. In Fort Lauderdale Elite members are boarded first, along with full suites and those with disabilities, then platinum are boarded before the door for the masses open up. ;)

[koolforkatz]

If you use a color printer to print your boarding passes they will be a different color and very obvious to the Princess staff, they will direct you to the proper line.

 

That's what happened to us in Port Everglades. I wasn't sure where to go/what to do but as soon as they saw the colour on my boarding pass, they directed us to the right area.

[Sandytoes]

On top of your Boarding Pass

it will say

eTicket Preferred Boarding Pass

in the Green area

 

When you show them your pass they will direct you to the Priority Check in area.

[Pam in CA]

One thing to be aware of is that the Priority boarding line is usually not any shorter than the regular line as there are so many Platinum/Elite/Suite passengers. It may be a benefit but usually isn't.

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

There are two different sections of the boarding process that you need to think about when you are platinum. There's the line to get into the check in area and then there is the check in area itself. Platinum and Elite can bypass the long line and get into the security line before everyone else. Then you sit together with the Elites and other platinums and when for the check in lines to open.

 

The check in desks are arranged by deck and then seperate lines for platinum/elite. If the platinum/elite lines are long and your individual deck line is shorter, then go there.

 

Now it does differ slightly by embarkation port and what time you get there. In Vancouver the check in line was so quiet that we checked and then went to the platinum waiting section. And the wait was TEN seconds and they let us on the ship. Non platinum/elites had to wait.

 

Now that I am platinum, I always get there by 11am and go sit with the other platinums. End up being one of the first people on the ship! (after the Elites of course. But only 4 more until we have that lucky black cruise card!!)

 

Does that help at all???

[kywildcatfanone]

Thanks all for the replies. All very helpful!

 

Mike

[kusscate]

In San Francisco, Priority Boarding was clearly marked. And MUCH faster. We also took three newbies through that line with us because they are family. Not a problem even though they had different cabins. (Same with the priority debarkation lounge on board.)

[honey8572]

it really depends on the time you get to the port. When we cruised last month out of SF, they had already started the process, so we walked into the Platinum line to check in, which was shorter. After that, walked right into the line to go through security and get on the ship, never waited in a seating area at all. Usually we like to get there earlier, though, and you end up usually sitting in a separate room before you get on.

 

doodie:)

[Valeen]

The speed of the boarding process is, from my experience, a matter of luck! No matter what your card status, if buses are dropping people off there will be long lines. The boarding process has been the ONLY part of this type of vacation that I've learned to dread, but the past 2 were not a problem. Good Luck to you.

[paul929207]

The speed of the boarding process is, from my experience, a matter of luck! No matter what your card status, if buses are dropping people off there will be long lines. The boarding process has been the ONLY part of this type of vacation that I've learned to dread, but the past 2 were not a problem. Good Luck to you.

We mostly sail on the small ships (Pacific, Royal and Tahitian/Ocean), which only hold about 700 passenger. We always fly in one or more days in advance, and do not book our pre-cruise hotel thru Princess. Therefore, we arrive by taxi and have never had to wait to check in, go thru security or board the ship.

[Sandytoes]

The speed of the boarding process is, from my experience, a matter of luck! No matter what your card status, if buses are dropping people off there will be long lines. The boarding process has been the ONLY part of this type of vacation that I've learned to dread, but the past 2 were not a problem. Good Luck to you.

Princess has the smoothest, easiest, and fastest embarkation\disembarkation compared to other cruise lines.

[hightownCO]

Just wondering what the boarding process and facilities are like in Rome/ Civitevecchia? My circle status is showing as Platinium although I'm really not (just 4 cruises to date and they show 5). My booking shows Gold but may print out my Captains Circle profile and see if I can use the Priority section if there is one.

[Times Prince]

At Port Everglades, the priority boarding is to the right (around the corner) of the regular line. So, just look around the corner and you will see another entrance and that is the one you would go to (if you can't find someone to direct you to it). There you will find chairs to sit and wait until boarding begins. It does fill up, so in order to get a seat, I would advise arriving a little earlier than usual. In Fort Lauderdale Elite members are boarded first, along with full suites and those with disabilities, then platinum are boarded before the door for the masses open up. ;)

For our last cruise out of Port Everglades we arrived just after general boarding started. We always keep our boarding passes out (printed in color) and if we are in the wrong line a Princess rep will spot the boarding pass and direct you to the right one, which happened in this case and we were personally escorted to the entrance on the right and slightly around the corner.

 

Inside there was a seating area as mentioned above, however on observation of the boarding passes visible, it was filled with general boarding people with number tags for the boarding group (first come first served). Approaching another Princess rep they told us we did not need to wait, but could enter the check-in area with the boarding group currently entering. After that it was straight to the Platinum checkin counter, take an imprint of the credit card and show passports and we were on to the ship.

 

The process at Port Everglades used to be better, in my opinion, where the lines were visible and clearly marked for priority boarding. All other ports have lanes to bypass the general boarding queue. Tahiti was the exception - there was no line and the boarding area was a couple of folding tables.

[CrusinAgain]

I have also just turned Platninum for this upcoming cruise. My sister will on this cruise and shares the same cabin with me. Does this mean she will be able to board with me like we normally do since I have priority boarding but she doesn't?

[paul929207]

I have also just turned Platninum for this upcoming cruise. My sister will on this cruise and shares the same cabin with me. Does this mean she will be able to board with me like we normally do since I have priority boarding but she doesn't?

Yes, your sister can join you on the Priorty line.

[Sandytoes]

I have also just turned Platninum for this upcoming cruise. My sister will on this cruise and shares the same cabin with me. Does this mean she will be able to board with me like we normally do since I have priority boarding but she doesn't?

Yes, you check in together.

[CrusinAgain]

Yes, you check in together.

 

Yes, your sister can join you on the Priorty line.

 

Thank you very much! :)

[AAAAmerican]

Congrats on your Status change now.

 

Your Tags will be color ( colour ) coded as well your boarding pass will indicate your level(s).

 

Signage is good for this cruise line eh... All members in your boarding party may go with you even if they are gold.

 

Enjoy your cruise and Fort Lauderdale!:cool:

 

 

 

Hi folks,

 

We just booked our first cruise as Platinum members, and I see that one of the benefits is priority embarkation at the port (In this case, FLL). My question is, do you just walk up to a rep and tell them your status and they point you to where to go, or something else?

 

Thanks,

Mike