Princess Cruises Testing Advance Boarding for a Fee

Looks like United Airlines is copying Princess:

 

United Airlines — ever on the hunt for ways to fatten its bottom line— has just rolled out a new early boarding option.

Called Priority Boarding, the new product allows customers eager to board early and secure overhead storage space to do so by paying an additional fee.

Priority Boarding customers will board with Group 2, which also includes Chase preferred credit card holders and certain United passengers with elite frequent traveler status. United has a total of five boarding groups for each flight.

According to a United spokeswoman, the fee for Priority Boarding is variable, but starts at $9. The fee could be higher depending on several factors, including the flight booked, the date, time of day, and day of week.

This is not new American Airlines has had a similar approach for years.

This is not new American Airlines has had a similar approach for years.

same with Allegiant - you want it, you pay for it - simple, really:cool:

I'm all for an early "priority" boarding, but it would have to be ahead of ALL the other groups, not somewhere in the middle behind suites, Elites and such.

At some point they will charge for everything including the MDR. I am so sick of all this extra charging.

At some point they will charge for everything including the MDR. I am so sick of all this extra charging.

A company called "E Z Cruise" did try that...you even had to pay to have your cabin serviced....

but that business model with rock-bottom passage fares, aimed at student traveler's did not succeed.

The other extreme are the all-inclusive luxury lines where just about everything is included....there are plenty of those around...:)

All I can say is another idea to tack a fee to.

if everyone dodges the extra fee then the idea will get canned.

A word from the wise:

A fool and his or her money are soon parted.

I can see the way you are thinking, if everybody decides to go for advanced boarding they will end up as they were before they opted in. Only difference is that they will have all shelled out a load of cash.

Regards John

What difference does it make on cruises of 14 days or longer?

long cruiser

Maybe people wanting to book the Sanctuary could benefit from early boarding? If a lot of people are vying for it on a given cruise. Other than that, I don't see the point of it, however I've always had priority boarding on Princess so I don't know what it's like to not have it! (Started cruising with someone who was already Platinum). Guess I'm spoiled.

That was my first thought (Sanctuary). Actually my first thought that this is a money grab like NCL no water with drink package and paying excessive grats on a 'free' drink or dining package. Although we have dropped Princess to near the bottom of our consideration tier for cruising, the Sanctuary would remain a must for us on warm weather cruises. This potentially adds another cost or barrier to Sanctuary booking. Why don't they just allow prebooking Sanctuary for the full week? The could offer a discount to suite pax and allow pax to prepay (I know they like getting up front money) with a no cancellation cut off date.

I know we were irked on CB when we waited to book the full ten days and stood in line while people spent an inordinate amount of time choosing their perfect spot for one or two afternoons of use. JMHO

I say they shouldn't charge to have early boarding, instead bring back priority boarding for strictly platinum and elite guests. Reward your loyal guests

I say they shouldn't charge to have early boarding, instead bring back priority boarding for strictly platinum and elite guests. Reward your loyal guests

I know I am lighting the fuse here but what constitutes loyalty and value to the line? Should someone who does multiple cruises in inside cabins off season with little on board spending have the same value as the once a year suite passenger who lives it up onboard?

Airlines used to have the same issues in their programs (the 400 dollar r/t flight cross country racks up miles when the 800 dollar 400 mile flight does not) but they are now looking at dollar spend. I believe SWA has the best, clearest program out there where spend is rewarded.

My point (or impression) is many frequent cruisers who have status maybe aren't as valuable to the cruise line as they think they are.

I know extra points are rewarded for certain cats of cabins but I can see the day (good or bad) where dollar spend will be part of the formula. JMHO

I know I am lighting the fuse here but what constitutes loyalty and value to the line? Should someone who does multiple cruises in inside cabins off season with little on board spending have the same value as the once a year suite passenger who lives it up onboard?

Airlines used to have the same issues in their programs (the 400 dollar r/t flight cross country racks up miles when the 800 dollar 400 mile flight does not) but they are now looking at dollar spend. I believe SWA has the best, clearest program out there where spend is rewarded.

 

My point (or impression) is many frequent cruisers who have status maybe aren't as valuable to the cruise line as they think they are.

 

I know extra points are rewarded for certain cats of cabins but I can see the day (good or bad) where dollar spend will be part of the formula. JMHO

You do make some valid points, and to some extent they already do that, as you mentioned, extra points earned for the higher priced suites. And HAL will even give you an extra point for spending a certain amount on board.

Also, those that are "high rollers" or sometimes called "whales", by the casino's on board, do get VIP perks, even in some cases a comp cruise....

The flip side of your case, is that the person booking a suite one time and spending a lot on board, may only be a "one hit wonder" for the cruise line, while someone who cruises repeatedly over and over and remains loyal, even if only in a cheap inside guarantee, can be counted on to remain loyal....

I will definitely pay for early boarding, did it for faster to t:):)he fun and it was well worth the money.:):):)

Nothing new....Princess is merely taking a page from sister company Carnival's book, where they have "First To The Fun" in place for quite some time, now....

Actually, I dubbed it "Faster to Your Wallet."

Actually, I dubbed it "Faster to Your Wallet."

Haha!! :'):'):') I’m dying!!

And if you do sign up for early boarding you can also beat the people to sign up to spend another $150 for the ships tour. ;);)

I will definitely pay for early boarding, did it for faster to t:):)he fun and it was well worth the money.:):):)

FTTF gets you much more than the Princess early boarding option. FTTF means your cabin will definitely be ready when you board (Princess cabins may not be ready with boarding starting around 11 AM now), your luggage will be delivered sooner, and priority for tendering to shore at tender ports. None of this comes with the Princess option and at best you may board 30 minutes faster than not having paid for this.

FTTF gets you much more than the Princess early boarding option. FTTF means your cabin will definitely be ready when you board (Princess cabins may not be ready with boarding starting around 11 AM now), your luggage will be delivered sooner, and priority for tendering to shore at tender ports. None of this comes with the Princess option and at best you may board 30 minutes faster than not having paid for this.

I would pay for priority tendering/shuttle bus access on Princess. We’re only Platinum and you have to wait behind the elites and the ship tours. You had to take a number and/or wait on a long line- annoying. Until the last trip, all our Princess cruises were to the Caribbean and Alaska. We never had an issue getting off the ship at a port of call. In NZ, it was quite a different story.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I would pay for priority tendering/shuttle bus access on Princess. We’re only Platinum and you have to wait behind the elites and the ship tours. You had to take a number and/or wait on a long line- annoying. Until the last trip, all our Princess cruises were to the Caribbean and Alaska. We never had an issue getting off the ship at a port of call. In NZ, it was quite a different story.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Is it really that much slower? Why?

Is it really that much slower? Why?

It was awful in NZ. The Diamond is a big ship and I guess everyone wants to get off once she’s cleared to get the full day in port. Elites get to cut the line. I wonder if it’s also like that for Europe and Asia. It wasn’t like that for our other cruises. We’re going to Asia on the Diamond in 2019 so inquiring minds want to know lol.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I guess then another good perk with CC stateroom is that you get priority tender tickets. When on our last cruise they were delivered to our stateroom the night before, and instructions said that we just needed to take these tickets with us to the tender area whenever we were ready to disembark. No getting a number or waiting for elites, etc. to get off, just go and get on when we were ready. So that will be nice on one of our cruises where there are three tender ports of call!!!

Pooh

I guess then another good perk with CC stateroom is that you get priority tender tickets. When on our last cruise they were delivered to our stateroom the night before, and instructions said that we just needed to take these tickets with us to the tender area whenever we were ready to disembark. No getting a number or waiting for elites, etc. to get off, just go and get on when we were ready. So that will be nice on one of our cruises where there are three tender ports of call!!!

 

Pooh

We've had priority tender tickets on a number of cruises. There have been times when they made us go to a priority embarkation area and not right to the actual boarding area.....

Bob

FTTF gets you much more than the Princess early boarding option. FTTF means your cabin will definitely be ready when you board (Princess cabins may not be ready with boarding starting around 11 AM now), your luggage will be delivered sooner, and priority for tendering to shore at tender ports. None of this comes with the Princess option and at best you may board 30 minutes faster than not having paid for this.[/quote]

 

Unless you have elite status:

 

All PLATINUM benefits plus:

 

Preferred Services Package

 

Priority Ship to Shore Tender Embarkation

As a well-traveled guest with Princess, you have the opportunity to travel ashore quickly and without waiting in line in our tender ports.

 

Priority Disembarkation

If you have independent onward travel you may contact the Circle Host towards the end of your voyage to state your request to disembark with your preferred disembarkation group. If you'd like to linger onboard longer, we'll be more than happy to give you a later disembarkation group. If you'd like to be one of the first groups to disembark, we'll gladly accommodate - the choice is yours!

 

https://book.princess.com/captaincircle/membershipBenefits.page

 

Also FTTF just like Princess elite status, there's no priority embarkation at tender ports. Everyone waits in line regardless of what you paid for in advance. Faster to Your Wallet!!! I won't cruise on Carnival ships again, not even for FREE!

Nothing new....Princess is merely taking a page from sister company Carnival's book, where they have "First To The Fun" in place for quite some time, now....

I have 2 other revenue generating suggestions for the cruise lines -

1) Reserved toilet stalls. This would be special stalls that are only available to people who pay an toilet up charge. They might even have a better quality softer toilet paper.

2) Reserved elevators. This one might actually sell. You have to scan your cruise card to get into the elevator. The door closes very quickly to make sure that no freeloader sneaks in behind you.

Anyone else have some other "faster" ideas that cruise lines might implement?

DON

We've had priority tender tickets on a number of cruises. There have been times when they made us go to a priority embarkation area and not right to the actual boarding area.....

 

Bob

In March we were in a suite, received a letter saying we had priority tendering so we could go directly to the tender area - we did that and then were told we were wrong and had to go to the lounge and get a number first. Even though we had the letter with our directions, we were told they were incorrect. It would be nice if everyone was on the same page.

In March we were in a suite, received a letter saying we had priority tendering so we could go directly to the tender area - we did that and then were told we were wrong and had to go to the lounge and get a number first. Even though we had the letter with our directions, we were told they were incorrect. It would be nice if everyone was on the same page.

Your lucky enough that no one from the crew notices you when you arrive at the tender location (via the elevator) you can just mingle with the crowd & board.

Most times there's no one at that location except for the security personal & they couldn't care one way or the other.