VIP Boarding for Families

Two of us are platinum members. Our children and 3 special needs grandchildren are not. Does anyone know if Royal Caribbean will let us board at the same time? We are definitely entitled to early and VIP boarding but want to board with family...Thanks for input.

Sure you will all be able to board together, but the speed of boarding all depends on the port or terminal you are sailing from.

They'll let you all board together. OTOH, if you get there early, there are often no, or very short, lines such that the boarding process is expedited for everyone.

Enjoy your cruise.

Of course, you can board together - just check in with them - no need to use platinum check-in.

Of course, you can board together - just check in with them - no need to use platinum check-in.

To follow up on this, as Platinum you will still be behind suites, diamond +, diamond, emerald, so no great advantage anyway.

Sure you will all be able to board together, but the speed of boarding all depends on the port or terminal you are sailing from.

We are leaving from Fort Laud. and are Platinum members. Does sure in your note mean your tthoughts or a rule or procedure that is general?

Thanks

To follow up on this, as Platinum you will still be behind suites, diamond +, diamond, emerald, so no great advantage anyway.

You only forgot back to back cruisers also! lol

We are leaving from Fort Laud. and are Platinum members. Does sure in your note mean your tthoughts or a rule or procedure that is general?

Thanks

They may or may not be allowed to "bump up" with you...I have seen times where they were very strict about not seating non C&A traveler's WITH C&A travelers...othertimes they would let the entire party sit together...IF you arrive at the pier AFTER general boarding has begun it doesn't matter what level you are & everyone can board at the same time...as other's have said Platinum is not that high up the boarding ladder anyway...so you may as well just check in the regular line & then there won't be any problem boarding together...

We are leaving from Fort Laud. and are Platinum members. Does sure in your note mean your tthoughts or a rule or procedure that is general?

Thanks

If I understand what people are saying - Sure, you can board with the rest of your family if you forego your Platinum VIP line. You can wait in the regular line along with your family. There is no "need" to wait in the Platinum line.

To clarify, are you asking whether your family can accompany you in the VIP Line?

Two of us are platinum members. Our children and 3 special needs grandchildren are not. Does anyone know if Royal Caribbean will let us board at the same time? We are definitely entitled to early and VIP boarding but want to board with family...Thanks for input.

If your grandchildren require boarding assistance or early boarding, you should contact the special needs department. Their C&A status is irrelevant, the special needs department will help you if they are unable to board with everyone else.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/allaboutcruising/accessibleseas/otherNeeds.do

If your grandchildren require boarding assistance or early boarding, you should contact the special needs department. Their C&A status is irrelevant, the special needs department will help you if they are unable to board with everyone else.

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/allaboutcruising/accessibleseas/otherNeeds.do

To add to the above: if any of the grandchildren are in wheelchairs, you will be checked-in at the handicapped table/line. The whole family can most likely be checked in together, and stay as a group. Handicapped passengers are taken to the elevators and boarded ahead of/with the priority C&A passengers.

We had my MIL in a wheelchair for two cruises, and this is what they did. We were D+, anyway, but handicapped took priority over D+.

Two of us are platinum members. Our children and 3 special needs grandchildren are not. Does anyone know if Royal Caribbean will let us board at the same time? We are definitely entitled to early and VIP boarding but want to board with family...Thanks for input.

Interesting, but I've never heard of VIP boarding with RCI. "Priority boarding" based on C & A tier level and suites, but not "VIP".

Are your reservations linked? If so, all of your family will be able to board together and check in together with you in the Platinum lines.

Won't be a great "early" benefit, however, as mentioned by others, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond+, Pinnacle and Suite guest would be ahead of you. You would only be ahead of Gold and non C & A. :D

reallyitsmema's and pcur's advice is the best regarding your special needs grandchildren as accommodations might be made to have you all board early - and rightfully so - as a result of that.

Enjoy your cruise!

Every little bit helps...and a lot depends on people at the port as you well know.

Every little bit helps...and a lot depends on people at the port as you well know.

If you are with anyone handicapped, there is no doubt: it's Federal law they must be accommodated first. Contact Special Needs at RCCL as reallyitsmema said. They will give you instructions on what to do.

Are your reservations linked? If so, all of your family will be able to board together and check in together with you in the Platinum lines.

 

Not so sure about this. Its pretty easy to link reservations but I don't think this automatically puts "linkees" in a priority line.

Two of us are platinum members. Our children and 3 special needs grandchildren are not. Does anyone know if Royal Caribbean will let us board at the same time? We are definitely entitled to early and VIP boarding but want to board with family...Thanks for input.

you can board together.. in the lowest category. so if they are first time cruisers you will board when they are allowed to board( they cannot jump into your boarding group)

you may check in at the same time but if you wish to board at the same time you will need to join them in their waiting area.

If you are with anyone handicapped, there is no doubt: it's Federal law they must be accommodated first. Contact Special Needs at RCCL as reallyitsmema said. They will give you instructions on what to do.

nope. we must be given equal access not preferential treatment. I am not entitled to board first just because I am in a wheelchair.

Every little bit helps...and a lot depends on people at the port as you well know.

If the kids have a special need that makes regular boarding an issue, then contact special needs and make arrangements for early boarding or assisted boarding. Many people with kids with autism get early boarding so the kids don't get overwhelmed.

From your other posts, these kids are going to be around the ship on their own with walkie talkies so this seems to be more of a boarding as a family with the rest of the platinum C&A members as opposed to a special need issue.

We just got off of Indy on Sunday out of Ft. Lauderdale. In our party of 10, we are diamond, 2 platinum, 4 gold and 2 newbies. Everyone was allowed to board with us in the VIP line. We boarded at about 10:50am. The man directing people said it was no problem at all.

Two of us are platinum members. Our children and 3 special needs grandchildren are not. Does anyone know if Royal Caribbean will let us board at the same time? We are definitely entitled to early and VIP boarding but want to board with family...Thanks for input.

If I understand this right, Grandma and Grandpa is Platinum

Than there are two adults? Married?

Than they have kids.

The way it works is kids are the same "level" as parent, so the kids along with the parents will be treated as regular guests.

Grandparents are treated as Platinum. However, the general rule is if you want to board together, than you board with the parents(or in this case your kids and grandkids) and give up the platinum perk.

Also, you might define special needs kids. I have know many families with special needs kids, and most would never need special treatment to get on a ship.

Since you are traveling with special needs children... PLEASE contact the special needs department. They are the nicest people... and will guide you through the services they offer. At the pier... if anyone is in a wheel chair they will give you special assistance. Even if you are not in a wheel chair, and the children need assistance in boarding -- if they can't walk up the long and winding gangways... they will be more than happy to walk your entire group to the assisted boarding area... you go into the ship on a lower level and up the elevator.

My mother uses a walker and a wheel chair for boarding. She just can't do the long ramps. While we were checking in... and they were securing a wheel chair for her... there was a family with a young child that was having difficulty with the crowds. A melt down doesn't even describe the anguish of this child...and his parents. The nicest shore agent approached this young family... .pulled them out of line... and they checked in with us. Still in tears this little man calmed down... and finally calmed down when my mom turned to him and said... would you mind carrying my cane for me? From that moment this child was fine... he was no longer surrounded by HUGE adults (sometimes we forget they are at our knee level)... and he was helping someone. He walked proudly... holding his fathers hand... carrying this cane. We went in through the first deck... he waited patiently until security would let us cross the road... and only for a minute was hesitant about the gang way. But all of that was taken care of when he turned to my mom and said... "Don't worry... I won't drop your cane!" They escorted us up to the Windjammer... where we said goodbye to our new friends. This little boy was doing well. His mother told me he had some problems and they had no idea about the special needs department. Throughout the cruise when we would see them he would run up to mom and ask her if she needed anything. I can't tell you how delightful it was when he'd show up with a cookie for mom... or a tea bag... and once he even brought her a napkin... in case she needed it. His mom told me he always took something in case he saw the "lady that needed help". We saw them on departure day, as they used the special need area for departure.

All of this is a way of saying... if you need assistance you are not acting entitled or privileged. I do think some people mis-use the system... but don't let that discourage you from asking for assistance. If they had left that little boy in line not only would their cruise have possibly been ruined... but anyone around them would have been frustrated and angry. This little act of allowing this young man to board through special needs made everyone's cruise start on a good note!

I hope you enjoy your cruise!!